\Q' 


_ 


MR.   EBENEZER  BARNUASTLE. 


ZACHARIAH, 


THE  CONGRESSMAN; 


A  TALE  OF  AMERICAN  SOCIETY, 


BY 

GILBERT  A.  PIERCE. 


CHICAGO: 

DONNELLEY,  CASSETTE   &    LOYD,    PUBLISHERS. 
I  880. 


ENTERED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  OF  CONGRESS,  IN  THE  YEAR  1879,  BY 

GILBERT  A.  PIERCE, 
IN  THE  OFFICE  OF  THE  LIBRARIAN  OF  CONGRESS,  AT  WASHINGTON. 


CONTENTS. 


PACK 

CHAPTER  I. — IN  WHICH  ZACHARIAH  MAKES  HIS  FIRST 

APPEARANCE,  -  -  9 

CHAPTER  II. — IN  WHICH  PEGGY  CLOVER  MAKES  HER 

Bow,  - 

CHAPTER  III. — BOBBIN'S  HOME  AND  HOPES, 
CHAPTER  IV. — THE  CAMPAIGN,     - 
CHAPTER  V. — IN  WHICH  ZACHARIAH  ENTERS  UPON  NEW 

SCENES,       -  -  65 

CHAPTER  VI. — IN  WHICH  MR.  BARNCASTLE  JOINS  THE 

PROCESSION,  76 

CHAPTER  VII. — BOBBIN  GETS  AN  APPOINTMENT,  -  87 
CHAPTER  VIII. — ZACH.  GOES  INTO  SOCIETY,  -  -  106 
CHAPTER  IX. — MR.  BARNCASTLE  AGAIN,  -  138 

CHAPTER  X. — THE  BEGINNING  OF  TROUBLE,  -  -  145 
CHAPTER  XI. — IN  WHICH  PEGGY  BECOMES  A  WANDERER,  162 
CHAPTER  XII. — MR.  BOBBIN  LEARNS  A  NUMBER  OF 

THINGS,  -  -  179 

CHAPTER  XIII. — THREE  YEARS  AFTER,         -  203 

CHAPTER  XIV. — IN  WHICH  PEGGY  APPEARS  IN  A  NEW 

ROLE,          -        -        - 218 


757580 


8  Contents. 


PAGE 


CHAPTER  XV. — PLOTS,     -  -  228 

CHAPTER  XVI. — IN  WHICH  CLOUDS  APPEAR  ON  ZACH- 

ARIAH  MARTIN'S  HORIZON,  -  -  241 

CHAPTER  XVII. — BARNCASTLE  AGAIN,          -  -     252 

CHAPTER  XVIII. — Miss  CRISTOPHER  GIVES  ZACH.  A 

SURPRISE,  -  -  264 

CHAPTER  XIX. — IN  WHICH  ZACH.  MAKES  THE  AC 
QUAINTANCE  OF  MISFORTUNE,  -  -  -  277 

CHAPTER  XX. — BOBBIN  ATTENDS  A  PRESIDENTIAL  RE 
CEPTION,  -  -  -  290 

CHAPTER  XXI. — TROUBLE  THICKENS,  -        -        307 

CHAPTER  XXII. — Miss  CRISTOPHER  FORMS  A  RESOLU 
TION,  -  328 

CHAPTER  XXIII.— WHICH  EXPLAINS  PEGGY'S  RE- AP 
PEARANCE,  -  -  337 

CHAPTER  XXIV. — IN  WHICH  BOBBIN  MAKES  A  LAST 

APPEARANCE,  -  -  355 

CHAPTER  XXV. — IN  WHICH  BARNCASTLE  MORALIZES, 

AND  ZACH.  MEETS  WITH  FURTHER  TROUBLE,  -  367 

CHAPTER  XXVI. — MR.  AND  MRS.  MARTIN  PREPARE 

FOR  A  JOURNEY,  AND  ZACH.  HAS  A  TRIAL,  -  377 

CHAPTER  XXVII. — A  WELCOME  ARRIVAL,  -        -         -    401 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. — THE  END  OF  IT  ALL,         -        .        407 


ZACHARIAH,  THE  CONGRESSMAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

IN    WHICH     ZACHARIAH     MAKES    HIS     FIRST     APPEAR 
ANCE. 

'•  But  suppose  there  are  two  mobs,"  suggested  Mr.  Snodgrass. 
"  Shout  with  the  largest,"  replied  Mr.  Pickwick. 

"  Three  cheers  for  Zachariah  Martin  ! " 

"  Hurrah,  hurrah,  hurrah  !" 

"Tiger!" 

"Rah-h-h!" 

Behold  the  hubbub  in  Hiltonville!  The  peo 
ple  are  awake.  The  boys  are  excited. 

The  country  band  has  assembled  in  front  of 
the  town  hall,  and  Slim  Timothy  Bobbin  is  whirl 
ing  around  and  making  himself  observed  from  all 
observable  points.  Slim  Timothy  Bobbin  is  in 
some  respects  responsible  for  this  confusion.  In 


io  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

this  wise :  The  Congressional  convention  is  just 
ended.  Two  prominent  candidates  have  been 
before  the  convention,  and  the  strife  between  them 
has  waxed  high.  Numerous  papers  had  declared 
for  Israel  Snapp,  and  held  aloft  the  name  of  Snapp 
to  an  admiring  world.  Numerous  other  papers 
had  hoisted  the  name  of  Simpson  and  proclaimed 
his  virtues  to  the  public. 

"Where  will  you  find  another  man  who  unites 
to  a  masterly  intellect  a  heart  as  tender  as  a 
woman's  and  a  love  for  the  common  people  which 
can  not  be  questioned  or  denied."  Thus  the 
"Herald  of  Liberty"  for  Snapp. 

The  "  Register  of  Freedom,"  on  the  other  hand, 
held  a  different  opinion.  "  Mr.  Simpson,"  said  that 
organ,  "  is  peculiarly  fitted  for  this  high  position. 
His  commanding  ability  as  a  stump-speaker  is 
recognized  throughout  the  State.  During  the 
war  his  trumpet-tongued  eloquence  was  heard  on 
every  side  like  the  mighty  rushing  of  many 
waters,  and  he  was  only  restrained  from  mingling 
in  the  conflict  himself  by  the  unfortunate  illness 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  1 1 

of  his  son  Ichabod.  Now,  however,  Mr.  Simpson 
is  all  for  peace,  and  his  efforts,  if  elected,  will  be 
directed  toward  restoring  fraternal  feeling  to  the 
distracted  land." 

But,  alas !  for  Snapp,  and  alas !  for  Simpson. 
Twenty  ballots  were  had,  and  each  time  there  was 
a  tie.  Neither  faction  would  give  way.  In  this 
crisis,  a  patriotic  citizen  who  had  mildly  supported 
Snapp  arose.  "  He  deprecated  strife  in  this  great 
and  glorious  party.  He  would  sacrifice  personal 
preference  to  unity  and  harmony.  [Applause  by 
the  Simpson  men,  who  thought  he  was  coming 
over  to  them.]  Every  man  here  was  a  patriot. 
[Immense  applause  by  all.]  They  had  proven  it 
by  standing  to  their  colors  throughout  a  score  of 
campaigns.  And  should  they  desert  them  now? 
[Cries  of  "  No,  no ! "]  Where  there  had  been 
unity  should  there  be  division  ?  Sooner  let  his 
name  perish  from  the  earth."  He  closed  by  with 
drawing  the  name  of  Snapp,  and  nominating  as  a 
substitute  one  upon  whom  all  could  unite;  one 
who,  though  young  in  years,  was  known  and 


12  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

loved,  and  one  whose  brilliant  entrance  on  the 
political  stage  cast  a  shadow  on  many  an  older 
politician.  He  nominated,  as  a  candidate  for  this 
position,  Zachariah  Martin,  Esq.,  of  Pine  County. 

And  Timothy  Bobbin  had  thrown  his  hat  high 
up  in  the  air  at  this,  and  screamed  himself  hoarse 
in  his  enthusiasm. 

Who  would  have  believed  it?  Observe  the 
fickleness  of  the  human  heart !  Fifty  men  had 
sworn  eternal  allegiance  to  Snapp.  They  forsook 
him  for  Zachariah.  As  many  more  had  vowed 
never  to  forsake  Simpson.  They  went  over  to 
the  new  man  in  a  body,  and,  in  precisely  twenty 
minutes  from  the  time  his  name  was  announced, 
Zachariah  Martin  was  the  candidate  of  the  con 
vention  for  Congress. 

Zachariah  Martin  was  a  young  man,  not  yet 
twenty-seven,  and  the  son  of  a  well-to-do  farmer 
who  had  gotten  his  property  by  hard  work,  and 
knew  what  it  had  cost  him.  He  was  very  proud 
of  Zach.,  and  had  given  him  a  very  good  education 
at  the  "High  School"  in  the  neighboring  town, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  13 

but  his  highest  ambition  went  no  farther  than  to 
have  his  son  one  of  the  first  men  in  the  county 
the  richest  farmer  in  it,  and,  perhaps,  President  of 
the  Agricultural  Society.  For  politics  he  cared, 
very  little,  and,  although  he  now  and  then  got 
excited  in  times  of  great  popular  outbreaks,  and 
generally  voted  the  straight  ticket,  yet  he  was 
accustomed  to  say  "  that  the  whole  thing  was  a 
confounded  humbug,"  and  he  had  no  time  to  talk 
about  it.  Not  so,  however,  with  his  wife,  Zach.'s 
mother.  Though  a  hard-working  woman,  and  one 
tolerably  ignorant  of  anything  relating  to  affairs 
of  state,  she  always  had  a  notion  that  Zach.  would 
become  a  great  man  of  some  kind,  and  indus 
triously  courted  favor  with  every  one  having  the 
least  pretension  to  prominence. 

"  I  allers  stuck  to  it,"  said  she,  "that  my  child 
ren  should  go  among  the  foremost,  or  not  go  at 
all ;"  and  so  it  happened  that  when  Zach.  began  to 
display  a  taste  for  politics,  and  when  he  rose 
through  successive  campaigns  to  be,  first,  chairman 
of  the  Township  Campaign  Club ;  then,  member  of 


14  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

the  County  Central  Committee;  then,  a  delegate  to 
the  State  Convention,  the  old  lady's  pride  rose 
with  him,  until  it  grew  unrestrainable  as  Zach. 
stood  upon  the  platform  at  a  great  mass  meeting 
and  introduced  to  the  assembled  multitude  the 
party's  candidate  for  Governor.  When  that  can 
didate  turned  around  on  the  platform  and  referred 
in  complimentary  terms  to  his  "esteemed  friend 
Mr.  Martin,"  the  good  lady  could  scarcely  refrain 
from  shouting  outright.  She  nodded  her  head  at 
every  sentence,  and  looked  from  the  speaker  to 
Zach.,  and  back  again  and  smiled  and  "hunched" 
Mrs.  Whitcomb,  who  sat  next  her,  until  her  hus 
band  gruffly  told  her  not  to  make  a  fool  of  herself, 
his  usual  way  of  addressing  her  whenever  any 
thing  in  her  manner  displeased  him. 

But  Zach.  grew  in  political  knowledge,  and  two 
years  before  this  story  opens  had  made  a  canvass 
of  the  State  and  been  quite  successful  as  a 
speaker.  He  was  being  seriously  talked  of  for 
Congress  by  a  few  ardent  admirers  in  his  own 
county,  but  there  had  been  no  effort  made  to 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  15 

bring-  his  name  before  the  convention,  save  by  a 
few,  until,  as  narrated  above,  a  lucky  incident 
threw  him  into  the  breach  as  a  compromise  candi 
date,  and  he  was  nominated. 

Zach.  had  no  serious  thought  of  being  selected, 
still  he  knew  that  it  was  just  possible  he  might  be, 
and  he  was  in  a  feverish  excitement  during  the 
day  that  the  convention  was  held.  "  Of  course  I 
don't  expect  they'll  do  it,"  he  said  to  his  mother, 
standing  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  leaning  up  against  the 
kitchen  door,  while  she  industriously  scoured  the 
knives  and  forks.  "  I  don't  expect  they'll  do  it,  but 
it  will  be  funny  if  something  does  occur  to  make 
me  the  choice." 

"  They're  plaguey  fools  if  they  don't,  that's  all  I 
have  to  say,"  replied  his  mother,  carefully  wiping 
the  table  and  setting  things  to  rights.  "  Plaguey 
fools  if  they  don't" 

"  Who's  plaguey  fools  ? "  said  the  old  gentle 
man,  coming  in  the  outer  door. 

"Them  convention  men  if  they  don't  nominate 
Zach.,"  said  the  old  lady,  lighting  her  pipe. 


1 6  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Tut,  tut,  old  woman,  here's  more  foolishness," 
replied  Mr.  Martin.  "  I  allers  hoped  Zach.  would 
settle  down  on  the  farm  and  stay  with  us,  but  it 
seems  his  head  is  bent  on  destruction.  I  don't 
like  these  politicians  anyhow.  I  mind  how  smooth 
and  oily  Snyder  was  when  he  was  running  for 
Sheriff.  Called  on  us  frequent.  Even  went  out 
one  night  and  helped  milk  the  cows,  and  said  noth 
ing  would  suit  him  better  than  to  take  a  hand  at 
husking.  But,  dang  it !  he  didn't  know  me  t'other 
day  when  he  met  me  in  town ;  and  that's  the  way 
with  'em  all.  I  wouldn't  have  a  thing  to  do  with 
'em,  Zach.,  if  I  was  you ;  not  a  thing." 

Zach.  only  smiled  as  his  father  ceased  speaking, 
and  walked  away ;  but  the  old  lady  shook  her 
head,  and  remarked  that  "Joe  never  did  care  about 
anything  better  than  raising  corn  and  calves.  As 
for  her,  she  wanted  her  children  eddicated,  and  she 
wanted  them  to  be  something,  and  a  precious  lot 
they'd  a'  been,  she  guessed,  if  they'd  a  follered  his 
advice,  and  if  she  hadn't  seen  to  'em." 

The  day  wore  away,  and  it  was  night,  and  as 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  17 

no  news  had  been  received  Zach  concluded  that 
the  expected  candidate  had  been  nominated.  The 
little  town  of  Martin's  Corners,  near  which  they 
lived,  was  very  quiet,  and  nine  o'clock  had  arrived, 
when  all  at  once  shouts  were  heard  in  the  village, 
and  soon  afterward  the  sound  of  a  fife  and  drum 
followed,  intermingled  with  more  shouts.  A  few 
minutes  afterward  a  buggy,  furiously  driven,  came 
up  the  road,  and  in  a  minute  more  stopped  before 
the  farm-house.  Two  men  were  in  it,  and  as  they 
leaped  to  the  ground  they  shouted : 

"Hurrah  for  Martin!" 

Zach.'s  heart  beat  as  he  looked  from  the  win 
dow.  One  of  the  men  hastily  tied  the  horse,  and 
as  he  finished  the  other  one  took  off  his  hat  and 
cried  out,  "Three  cheers  for  Martin,"  which  were 
given  by  the  twain  with  a  will,  and  which  were 
echoed  from  the  village  with  still  louder  cheers. 
The  men  came  to  the  door,  which  was  opened  by 
Mr.  Martin,  and  as  they  walked  in  Zach.  recognized 
one  of  them  as  the  Hon.  Aaron  Spiker,  who  had 
been  a  livery  stable  keeper,  a  real  estate  agent,  a 


1 8  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

member  of  the  Legislature,  and  a  very  chronic 
office  holder  at  Hiltonville,  the  county  seat,  but 
who  now  lived  at  Martin's  Corners.  The  other 
was  a  quiet,  mild-eyed  little  fellow,  to  whom  we 
have  before  alluded,  by  name  Timothy  Bobbin,  a 
gentleman  engaged  in  no  particular  business  that 
any  one  ever  heard  of,  but  who  was  universally 
respected  for  his  non-combativeness.  Spiker  was 
a  stout  man,  with  short  hair  and  a  very  red  face, 
shaved  smooth.  He  had  an  imposing  shirt  front 
and  wore  gold  studs,  which  lowered  him  several 
degrees  in  old  Mr.  Martin's  estimation.  He 
advanced  and  wrung  Zach.'s  hand  with  the  ardor 
of  a  long-separated  brother. 

"  Zach.,"  said  he,  slapping  him  on  the  back  and 
wheezing  with  his  great  exertions,  "You've  got  it, 
old  fellow!  You're  nominated!" 

At  this  Zach.  grasped  the  hand  of  Spiker  with 
great  fervor,  putting  his  left  in  both  the  hands  of 
Bobbin,  who  smiled,  and  stroked  the  honored 
palm  with  much  tenderness. 

"We've    done    it,   eh,    Bobbin?"    said    Spiker. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  19 

"We've  done  it  in  spite  of  'em  all.  You  were 
nominated  on  the  twenty-first  ballot!" 

"  On  the  twenty-first  ballot,"  echoed  Bobbin. 

"The  fight  was  terrible,  terrible,"  repeated 
Spiker,  shaking  his  head  and  contracting  his  eye 
brows,  at  which  Bobbin  shook  his  head  and  con 
tracted  his  eye-brows,  breaking  off  in  the  very 
middle  of  a  -smile  to  look  serious. 

"It  was  a  terrible  fight,  but  a  few  determined 
men  put  the  thing  through  and  won  the  day,  eh 
Bobbin?" 

Bobbin  came  out  of  his  thunder  -  cloud 
of  solemnity  and  rushed  into  the  sunshine  of 
merry  recollection,  and  then  Spiker  shook  hands 
with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin,  who,  up  to  this  time, 
had  been  wholly  unnoticed,  and  was  immediately 
followed  in  this  ceremony  by  Bobbin. 

"  Yes,  it  was  a  hard  fight,"  continued  Spiker, 
turning  again  to  Zach.  "Oh,  all  kinds  of  objec 
tions  were  urged  against  you.  '  He  has  no  settled 
convictions,'  says  one.  '  Hang  the  convictions,' 
says  I.  'What  do  you  want  with  him?  Here's  a 


2O  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

man  goes  to  Congress  to  represent  the  people. 
We  can't  all  go,  so  we  send  a  man.  We're  the 
ones  to  have  the  principles,  and  he  is  the  one  to 
enforce  them.  What  the  blue  blazes  has  he  orot 

o 

to  do  with  convictions;'  eh,  Bobbin?  Ain't  that 
what  I  said?" 

"  Them's  um,"  returned  Bobbin. 

"Another  fellow  says  he,  '  Martin  may  be  a  good 
man,  but  he's  too  young;  he  lacks  experience.'" 

"'How  do  you  count  years  in  politics?'  says  I. 
'  If  you  count  the  Summers  which  he  has  seen 
he  is  young,  but  if  you  count  the  wounds  he  has 
given  and  the  scars  he  has  received  in  the  service 
of  the  party  he  is  older  than  the  best  of  us.' 
That  cracked  his  nut,  didn't  it,  Bobbin  ?  " 

"  Mashed  him,"  replied  Bobbin. 

"  Coming  along,  I  says  to  Bobbin  here,"  con 
tinued  Spiker,  "says  I,  'I  never  worked  harder  for 
a  man  than  for  Martin,  and  I'm  very  much  mis 
taken  if  he  forgets  it.  We've  never  had  any  pat 
ronage  in  this  county.  One  of  the  best  offices  in 
the  district  ought  to  come  here,'  and,  says  I,  '  I'm 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  21 

fooled  if  Zach.  Martin  ain't  just  the  man  to  send 
it  here.'  '  And  if  ever  a  man  deserved  that  same 
office,'  says  Bobbin  to  me,  '  Aaron  Spiker  is  that 
man.'  'I've  done  nothing  but  my  duty  to  my 
country,  Bobbin,'  says  I ;  but  he  insisted  that  my 
part  in  the  matter  should  be  mentioned,  and 
threatened  to  do  it  himself,  and  he  always  blun 
ders  so  I  thought  it  best  to  get  ahead  of  him. 
Eh,  Bobbin  ?  Ain't  that  so?" 

"  That's  so,"  said  Bobbin. 

"  I  shall  most  assuredly  remember  you,"  said 
Zach,  warmly  shaking  the  fat  man's  hand  again. 

"Thank  you!"  returned  Spiker,  "I  can  con 
sidered  that  settled  then." 

Zach.  said  "yes"  without  hesitation. 

"  The  collector's  office,"  said  Spiker. 

"You  can  have  what  you  want,"  returned  Zach 
impulsively,  and  they  again  shook  hands  all 
round. 

"  They  are  coming  ! "  said  the  fat  man,  as  the 
sound  of  the  drum  drew  nearer.  "We  stopped  and 
told  them  and  they  are  coming,  and  we  must  have 


22  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

a  little  speech  from  you."  And  as  the  old  lady  in 
a  terrible  state  of  excitement  threw  open  the  front 
door  that  led  into  the  little  parlor  and  lighted 
both  big  lamps,  the  procession  of  nearly  fifty  men, 
women,  and  children  drew  up  at  the  door.  The 
fat  man  stepped  out  on  the  balcony  as  it  stopped, 
and  cried  out: 

"  Three  cheers  for  your  distinguished  fellow- 
citizen,  Zachariah  Martin,"  and  the  cheers  were 
given  with  great  spirit. 

"  Fellow  citizens,"  said  Spiker,  addressing  the 
crowd,  "it  is  useless  to  inquire  what  air  the  cir 
cumstances  that  draw  this  spontaneous  crowd  from 
their  peaceful  pursoots.  What  means  this  ere 
procession  and  lights  ?  What  means  this  beat 
of  the  drum  and  sound  of  the  soul-stirring  fife? 
Is  the  Fourth  of  July  upon  us?  No,  my  friends, 
it  does  not  mean  that.  The  great  American 
nation  looks  with  pride  upon  Martin's  Corners 
to-night,  for  it  has  furnished  a  statesman,  a  young 
man  it  is  true,  but  one  whose  name  will  yet  stand 
bright  on  the  roll  of — that  is  to  say — patriots. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  23 

Need  I  say  who  it  is?  I  see  the  answer  before 
hand  in  your  eyes.  I  read  it  in  your  looks.  It  is 
your  own  townsman,  Zachariah  Martin,  who  I  now 
have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  to  you." 

At  this  Spiker  stepped  back,  while  the  crowd 
cheered  lustily  as  Zach.  advanced.  He  made  a 
speech  neither  good  nor  bad,  but  one  which  bore 
evident  marks  of  having  been  thought  about 
beforehand,  under  a  possibility  that  he  might  be 
the  lucky  man.  He  of  course  said  it  was  the 
proudest  moment  of  his  life,  which  was  true,  and 
that  he  had  never  dreamed  of  such  an  honor, 
which  was  not  true.  He  declared  that  he  was 
nothing;  that  the  nomination  was  not  a  tribute 
to  him  personally,  but  to  the  great  principles  he 
advocated,  and  closed  by  promising  the  crowd  that 
his  life  should  be  devoted  to  their  service  and  in 
upholding  the  liberties  of  his  countrymen.  Then 
there  were  hand-shakings,  and  more  congratula 
tions,  and  a  repetition  by  Spiker  of  the  scenes  at 
the  convention,  and  at  last  the  crowd  separated, 
and  Zach.  was  alone  with  his  father  and  mother. 


24  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Well!"  exclaimed  he,  taking  a  hand  of  each, 
"what  do  you  think  now?  Ain't  I  getting  up  in 
the  world  pretty  fast?" 

"Not  a  bit,"  said  his  mother,  settling-  herself 
back  rather  stiffly ;  "  I  know'd  it.  I  said  so  ever 
since  you  was  born.  Even  while  you  was  kicking 
and  crowing  in  my  lap,  says  I,  'Joe,' says  I, 'that 
boy  has  a  head  on  him  that's  a  plaguey  sight 
mor'n  common,'  and  so  it  was." 

Zach.  smiled  good-naturedly,  and  pressed  his 
mother's  hand. 

"  Well,  Zach.,"  spoke  up  his  father,  "  it's  a  big 
thing,  I  s'pose.  Anyway,  I'm  proud  of  you.  But 
I've  seen  these  great  men  in  my  time.  They  went 
away  with  big  hopes.  Some  of  'em  got  mighty 
proud  and  stuck  up,  but  arter  a  while  they  growed 
fretful,  and  two  of  'em  died  in  rags,  arter  all  they 
had  flown  so  high.  I'm  not  going  to  discourage 
you,  Zach.,  but  I  stick  to  it  that  a  living  got  by 
honest  work  is  the  manly  and  independent  way 
arter  all." 

"  Oh,  you'll   feel   different  when   you    see    my 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  25 

name  heralded  through  the  land,  and  my  praise 
in  every  mouth,"  said  Zach. 

"Yes,  I  s'pose  so,"  replied  his  father;  "but  no 
matter  how  bright  the  outside  of  this  public  life 
may  look,  it  is  full  of  disappointments  and  vexa 
tion,  and  it  may  come  to  you,  my  boy ;  it  may 
come  to  you." 

"  That's  the  way ! "  broke  in  Mrs.  Martin  rather 
testily,  "  allers  a-humbugging  and  a-prophesying." 

"Never  mind,"  said  Zach.,  laughing,  "we  won't 
cross  the  river  till  we  get  to  it,  anyway." 

And  the  trio  fell  into  plans  for  the  future,  and 
discussed  them  till  long  after  the  usual  hour  for 
retiring.  So  the  first  evening  of  Zach.'s  greatness 
passed,  and  it  was  well  on  toward  the  dawn  of  the 
next  day  before  his  overtaxed  nerves  became  suffi 
ciently  composed  to  permit  him  to  sleep. 


26  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER    II. 

IN    WHICH    PEGGY    CLOVER    MAKES    HER    BOW. 

"  Where  can  Peggy  be  ? "  said  Zach.  to  his 
mother,  coming  into  the  house  next  morning  from 
a  long  communion  outside  with  himself.  "It's  cer 
tainly  time  she  was  home." 

"Nobody  knows,"  replied  his  mother.  "Trapes 
ing  over  the  hills  like  a  wild  Indian,  I  suppose. 
Nothing  would  do  but  she  must  go  over  to  the 
Fairweathers  yesterday  morning,  to  stay  all  night 
with  the  girls.  She  promised  to  be  home  before 
breakfast  this  morning,  and  here  it  is  ten  o'clock 
and  not  a  sign  of  her  yet.  The  girl  is  getting 
too  trifling  for  anything," 

"I  believe  I  will  go  out  and  find  her,"  said 
Zach.,  partly  to  himself,  and  partly  to  his  mother. 
"  I  know  her  haunts,  and  I'll  bring  her  in." 

Mrs.  Martin   took  her  hands   out  of  a   wash- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  27 

bowl  and,  looking  straight  at  Zach.,  said :  "  I 
wouldn't  do  it,  Zach.  Folks  have  allers  thought 
it  strange  how  you  run  after  her,  and  it'll  be  a 
mighty  sight  stranger  now.  You  ought  to  look 
higher.  She's  nothing,  and  she  never  will  be." 

Old  Mr.  Martin  had  approached  while  the  con 
versation  was  going  on,  and  broke  in  now. 

"  She's  an  honest  girl,"  said  he;  "good  enough 
for  a  king,  that's  what  she  is ;  and  I  say  that  a 
man  who  will  give  up  an  honest  girl  just  because 
he  is  like  to  get  a  little  office  ought  to  be  shot  as 
a  deserter,  and  I  hope  that'll  be  the  first  law  you 
pass  when  you  get  to  Congress." 

"  Now  you're  both  right,"  said  Zach.  "  Peggy 
has  not  been  thought  a  good  match  for  me,  and 
no  one  would  blame  me  now  for  looking  in 
another  direction ;  but  you  both  know  I  love 
Peggy,  and  I  do  not  intend  to  give  her  the  go-by, 

oo/  '  <j  o  J  ' 

because  I've  been  lucky.  But  of  course  she  must 
improve  herself.  It  will  be  no  little  thing  to  be 
the  wife  of  a  member  of  the  United  States  Con 
gress,  and  she'll  see  that  as  well  as  anybody.  If 


28  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

she  has  a  mind  to,  no  one,  will  have  reason  to  be 
ashamed  of  Peggy  Clover.  I'm  going  to  meet 
her.  She  hasn't  heard  a  word  yet,  I'll  be  bound, 
and  I'll  startle  her  out  of  her  wits,"  and  away  Zach. 
went  down  a  path  that  led  toward  the  grove. 

"  The  idea  of  Zach.'s  marrying  that  girl,"  said 
Mrs.  Martin,  "when  there  haint  a  born  lady  in  the 
land  but  would  jump  at  the  chance  of  him." 

"Betsy!"  said  the  old  man,  "you're  a  fool. 
What's  a  born  lady  with  no  soul,  and  no  body  to 
speak  of,  compared  to  a  healthy,  blooming  lass, 
with  a  heart  bigger  than  an  ox,  and  steel  springs 
in  every  limb.  Suppose  she  can't  simper  and 
giggle,  and  wear  bustles  bigger  than  a  haystack. 
She  can  work,  and  she  can  love,  and  what's  better, 
she  can  be  true  and  faithful  to  the  end,  and  that's 
what  some  of  your  born  ladies  can't  do,  let  me  tell 
you.  Lord!  what  a  girl  that  is  for  business.  If 
Zach.  had  only  stayed  on  the  farm  and  married 
Peggy  I'd  a  made  over  my  whole  property  to 
them.  But  he  never  will  be  contented  till  he's 
gone  through  the  mill." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  29 

Zach.  wandered  away  down  the  path,  and  as 
he  neared  the  grove  peered  through  under  the 
trees,  expecting  to  get  a  sight  of  Miss  Peggy 


returning. 


Peggy  Clover  was  an  orphan,  and  had  as  good 
as  been  brought  up  by  the  Martin  family.  She 
first  turned  up  as  a  waif  at  the  little  tavern  in  the 
village,  where,  at  the  age  of  nine,  she  was  washing 
dishes,  building  fires,  and  otherwise  paying  her 
way.  She  came  into  the  country  with  her  father, 
a  sort  of  itinerant  portrait  painter,  who  sought  the 
locality  for  his  health,  and  endeavored  to  meet  the 
wants  of  himself  and  child  by  occasional  jobs  in 
his  line.  But  there  were  few  who  cared  for  any 
thing  as  grand  as  a  painted  picture  among  the 
simple,  practical  folk  of  that  region,  and  so  Mr. 
Clover's  customers  were  few,  and  his  earnings  very 
pitiful.  He  boarded  at  the  little  public  house,  and 
when  the  unfortunate  man  yielded  to  his  disease 
and  went  peacefully  to  his  long  sleep,  in  debt  to 
the  proprietor,  Peggy  was  the  sole  dependence  of 
that  worthy  gentleman  out  of  which  to  get  his 


30  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

money  back.  He  kept  her  ostensibly  because 
the  poor  little  thing  had  no  other  home,  but  really 
because  she  was  wonderfully  handy  about  the 
house,  and  did  an  astonishing  amount  of  work  in 
an  incredibly  short  space  of  time ;  and  gradually 
more  and  more  came  to  be  piled  on  the  willing 
little  worker  until,  overtasked,  she  fell  very  ill 
and  her  life  was  despaired  of.  The  doctor's  bills 
began  to  look  formidable,  and  there  being  funeral 
expenses  in  prospect,  the  hotel  keeper  was  only 
too  glad  to  accept  the  proposition  of  the  Martins 
to  take  her  home,  nurse  her,  and  if  she  recovered, 
adopt  her.  She  soon  got  up  and  was  regarded  as 
a  very  lucky  girl  to  be  taken  into  the  wealthiest 
and  most  influential  family  in  the  neighborhood. 
She  had  to  work,  to  be  sure,  for  all  in  that  region 
worked,  no  matter  what  their  circumstances ;  but 
she  was  used  to  that,  and  as  she  grew  to  under 
stand  that  the  Martins'  home  was  hers,  the  first 
she  had  ever  had,  she  was  happy  at  the  thought 
and  happy  in  the  enjoyment  of  it  She  went  to 
school  during  the  short  season  it  was  in  session 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  31 

and  had  certainly  grown  up  a  promising  young 
lady. 

From  the  very  first  Zach.  had  been  her  friend, 
and  the  twain,  from  the  affection  of  a  brother  and 
sister,  had  gradually  come  to  experience  a  stronger 
feeling,  a  love  rarely  expressed,  scarcely  under 
stood,  even  by  themselves,  and  yet  some  way 
settled  and  stored  away  in  their  hearts  as  a  mat 
ter  fully  arranged  and  consummated.  Zach.  fully 
expected  to  marry  her,  she  fully  expected  to  be 
Zach.'s  wife,  yet  exactly  when  had  never  entered 
either  of  their  heads.  Zach.  had  carried  himself  a 
little  high  when  he  returned  to  the  farm  from  an 
academical  course  which  he  had  taken  in  a  neigh 
boring  town,  but  he  soon  lowered  when  Peggy, 
with  a  woman's  tact,  pretended  to  be  interested  in 
another  young  gentleman  of  the  village ;  and  so 
the  old  relations  were  renewed.  And  thus  they 
had  gone  on,  Zach.  entering  into  politics  ardently 
and  securing  considerable  reputation  thereby, 
Peggy  looking  upon  it  all  as  a  matter  of  course, 
proud  of  him,  to  be  sure,  but  no  more  so  than 


32  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

if  he  never  had  been  heard  of  outside  of  their 
own  little  neighborhood.  There  was  a  vein  of 
frivolity,  or  rather  rompishness,  about  Peggy  that 
Zach.,  as  he  became  more  impressed  with  his  own 
dignity  and  possibilities,  disliked.  She  could  row 
on  the  lake  as  well  as  the  champion  oarsman  of 
the  village.  She  could  leap  a  fence  quicker  than 
half  of  the  boys,  and  in  a  race  was  most  astonish 
ingly  fleet  of  foot.  She  could  sing,  but  she  sang 
songs  that  grated  upon  Zach.'s  ear,  especially  after 
his  return  from  school,  and  all  these  things  he 
strove  to  correct  in  her.  She  would  listen 
demurely,  and  promise  sacredly,  but  she  forgot 
the  compact  before  the  words  were  cold,  and  w,as 
skimming  across  the  fields  ere  the  echo  of  Zach/s 
tones  had  scarcely  died  away,  Zach.  felt  on  the 
morning  in  question  that  a  more  solemn  interview 
than  ever  was  necessary,  and  had  determined  to 
make  an  impression  on  her  that  would  be  lasting. 
He  had  reached  a  little  opening  in  the  path  and 
seated  himself  on  a  log  to  await  her  coming,  and 
there  he  sat  when  he  was  awakened  from  a  reverie 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  33 

by  her  voice.  She  was  concealed  by  the  thick 
foliage  that  shaded  the  pathway,  but  her  tones 
were  distinctly  audible.  She  was  singing  as  she 
walked,  and  Zach.  detected  an  absurd  break  or 
twitch  in  the  lines  every  now  and  then  which  he 
shrewdly  guessed  was  occasioned  by  a  nervous 
hop,  skip,  and  jump,  which  Peggy  was  fond  of 
indulging  in  as  an  accompaniment  to  her  music. 
She  was  "humming"  the  song,  the  words  of  which, 
if  words  they  could  be  called,  sounded  something 
like  this : 

Then  blow  ye  winds  hi-o, 

Tra  la  la  la  lay; 
I'm  going  to  my  own  true  love 

A  thousand  miles  away  a-a. 

"  Now  such  a  song  as  that,"  said  Zach.  to  him 
self,  "How  that  would  sound  at  the  Russian 
Minister's  or  the  Secretary  of  State's !  Can't  the 
girl  learn  anything?" 

As  Zach.  thought  this  aloud,  Peggy  appeared 
bounding  along  the  path.  She  stopped  short  with 
a  little  screech  upon  seeing  Zach.,  then,  drawing 

2*  C 


34  The  D.  G.   &  L.  Series. 

back,  puckered  her  mouth,  and  gave  vent  to  a  low 
whistle. 

"  Well,"  said  she,  finally,  "  if  there  ain't   Zach." 

"Yes,  here's  Zach.,"  responded  that  worthy. 

"  Why,  what  you  doing  here?  "  said  Peggy. 

"  Come  after  you,"  replied  Zach. 

"Oh,  what  a  nice  little  boy  he  is  getting  to  be," 
said  Peggy,  and  she  patted  him  on  the  cheek  good- 
humoredly. 

Zach.  took  her  hand  in  his,  and  looking  very 
serious,  said:  "Peggy,  I  want  to  talk  to  you — to 
talk  soberly,  too.  Now,  you  know  whistling  will  do 
for  a  cow-boy,  but  you're  not  a  cow-boy,  are  you  ?  " 

"  I  believe  not,"  said  Peggy. 

"  Then,  not  being  a  cow-boy,  you  ought  not  to 
act  like  one,"  he  went  on. 

"  Well,  that's  settled,"  returned  Peggy.  "  No 
more  whistling  for  me.  Now,  what  else?  " 

"  I  suppose  you  haven't  heard  the  news,"  said 
Zach.,  assuming  an  air  of  indifference. 

"  No.  What  is  it  ?  "  she  inquired  with  woman's 
eagerness. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  35 

"  You  haven't  heard  it  ? "  said  Zach.,  almost 
reproachfully,  "  while  everybody  else  knows.  Well, 
guess." 

"  You've  found  my  rabbits,"  said  Peggy,  quickly. 

Zach.  looked  at  her  almost  contemptuously. 
"Your  rabbits!"  he  said.  "Well,  no,  it  isn't  that; 
guess  again." 

Peggy  rolled  her  eyes,  with  a  thoughtful  expres 
sion,  upward,  and  then  said,  half  inquiringly  — 

"  Mrs.  Miles  is  dead." 

Zach.  shook  his  head  with  rather  of  a  disap 
pointed  air.  It  was  plain  she  hadn't  a  thought 
of  what  had  really  happened,  though  he  had  told 
her  repeatedly  that  the  prospect  was  open  to  him, 
and  he  so  wished  that  she  would  take  an  interest 
in  these  things. 

"  No,"  said  he.  "Mrs.  Miles  is  not  dead.  It  is 
something  about  me." 

"Something  about  you?"  said  she.  "I  know! 
you've  had  that  tooth  pulled,"  and  she  seized  him 
by  the  chin  with  her  right  hand,  while  she  went 
to  inspecting  his  mouth  with  her  left.  Zach.  took 


36  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

away  her  hands  laughing  in  spite  of  himself. 
"There,  there! "said  he,  "you'll  never  guess;  let 
me  tell  you.  I  have  been  nominated  for  Congress." 

"You've  been  what?"  exclaimed  Peggy. 

"  Nominated  for  Congress,"  said  Zach.,  "  and,  of 
course,  shall  be  elected.  I  am  going  to  have  a 
great  office,  Peggy." 

"  Oh !  I  heard  about  that,"  said  Peggy,  rather 
contemptuously. 

"You  heard  of  it,"  returned  Zach.,  "and  didn't 
you  wonder  at  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  is  it  such  a  dreadful  thing  ? "  said 
she. 

"Now,  look  here,  Peggy,"  exclaimed  Zach.,  "let's 
have  a  serious  talk  about  this.  I  shall  soon  be 
elected  to  one  of  the  highest -positions  in  the  land. 
I  shall  go  to  Washington  and  associate  with  great 
people,  fine  ladies  and  eminent  men,  shall  visit  the 
President  and  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
walk  arm  in  arm  with  them." 

"  I  wouldn't  do  it,  Zach.,  said  Peggy,  solemnly. 

"You  wouldn't  do  it?"  he  cried.     "How  would 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  37 

you  like  to  go  with  me,  and  be  dressed  in  silks 
and  satins,  like  Cinderela?" 

"  Oh,  crackey ! "  exclaimed  Peggy,  clapping  her 
hands,  "but  you're  joking,  Zach." 

"No,  I'm  not,  and  that's  just  what  I  want  to 
talk  to  you  about ;  and  don't  you  see,  Peggy,  that 
your  manners  here  would  not  do  there?  In  those 
refined  circles  no  slang  or  vulgarity  are  allowed, 
and  you  use  both." 

"Why,  Zach.!"  cried  Peggy,  amazed,  "I  never ! 
What  did  I  ever  say  that  was  vulgar?" 

"  I  do  not  mean  immoral,"  said  Zach.,  "but  low. 
You  must  leave  off  expressions  which  offend  polite 
ears.  I  heard  you  say  'Oh,  crackey'  just  now. 
Very  well.  'Oh,  crackey'  will  do  for  Martin's  Cor 
ners,  but  it  won't  do  for  Washington. 

"  I'll  never  say  it  again,  Zach.,"  said  Peggy, 
looking  penitent. 

"  Well,  it's  not  that  alone,"  Zach.  went  on.  "  All 
these  rough  words  and  songs  must  be  left  off. 
Now  what  was  that  I  heard  you  singing  just 
now  ?  " 


38  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Peggy  hung  her  head  and  looked  a  little 
sheepish. 

"  That  was  a  funny  little  song  we  heard  at  the 
show,"  said  she.  "  I  heard  you  say  you  liked  it." 

"  Yes,  but  such  songs  won't  do  for  you,"  he 
answered.  "  I  told  you  once  before  they  wouldn't 
do.  You  sing,  and  sing  well,  but  you  must  choose 
something  more  genteel,  you  know.  Then  there  is 
another  thing.  You  must  quit  calling  me  Zach." 

At  this  Peggy  looked  at  him  in  perfect  amaze 
ment.  "Quit  calling  you  Zach.!"  she  burst  out. 
"Why,  what  on  earth  shall  I  call  you?" 

"  Call  me  Mr.  Martin,"  said  he. 

"  Mr.  Mar ."  Here  Peggy  fairly  roared. 

"Mr.  Martin!  Oh,  crackey!"  And  it  was  so 
funny  that  Peggy  laughed  the  tears  into  her  eyes. 

"  There  you  go  again  with  your  '  Oh,  crackey  ! ' ' 
said  Zach.  pettishly. 

"I  didn't  quite  get  it  out,  Zach.  —  Mr.  Martin," 
responded  Peggy,  stammering,  and  correcting  her 
self. 

"Well,   you    act    as    if   there    was    something 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  39 

immensely  funny  about  calling  me  by  my  name," 
said  he.  "  How  do  you  think  it  would  sound  to 
have  you  rush  through  the  rooms  at  the  Presi 
dent's  reception,  bawling  'Zach.,  oh,  Zach.?'" 

"'Twould  sound  dreadful,  wouldn't  it?"  said 
Peggy,  thoughtfully  imagining  the  effect.  "  But 
then  Zach.  has  always  been  so  dear  to  me,  and  to 
call  you  Mr.  Martin  seems  so  cold.  It  seems  to 
me  they  must  be  very  heartless  down  there,  no 
matter  how  grand  they  are ;  but  I  shall  call  you 
Mr.  Martin  after  this,  see  if  I  don't." 

"Well,"  said  Zach.,  a  little  less  confidently,  "try 
to  look  at  these  things  right,  Peggy,  that's  all.  You 
don't  want  to  be  laughed  at,  I  know,  and  I  want 
you  to  eclipse  everybody  when  you  go  to  the 
capital  as  my  wife ;  that's  all  —  it's  for  you  I  say 
these  things." 

"  Zach.,"  said  Peggy,  very  resolutely,  "  I'll  learn 
to  do  everything  you  say." 

"  That's  right,"  exclaimed  Zach.,  pressing  her 
hands  warmly  ;  "  and  when  you  go  down  there  we 
shall  be  the  happiest  mortals  alive.  You  shall 


40  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

have  dresses  with  forty  yards  of  silk  in  them,  and 
be  decked  in  diamonds  like  a  princess.  You  shall 
have  your  carnage  and  your  servants,  and  the 
people  will  say  '  there  goes  the  beautiful  and 
accomplished  Mrs.  Zach.  Martin.'" 

"And  you  will  be  my  husband?"  said  Peggy, 
her  thoughts  running  away  from  the  finery  to  the 
one  great  desire  of  her  heart. 

"  I  shall  be  your  husband,"  said  Zach.,"  and  you 
shall  be  my  wife,  and  here's  a  kiss  to  start  it  with," 
and  Zach.  drew  her  slender  form  to  him  and  kissed 
her  most  tenderly. 

"Ah!  we  shall  be  so  happy,"  sighed  Peggy, 
dreamily.  '  So  happy,  and  I  owe  it  all  to  you, 
Zach.,  all  to  you."  And  she  said  the  "  Zach."  so 
tenderly,  and  crept  to  him  so  confidingly,  that  he 
did  not  reprove  her.  The  ship  was  sailing  away 
freely  now,  no  signs  of  storm,  and  they,  with  hearts 
that  beat  so  high,  were  sailing  with  it. 


i  the  Congressman.  41 


CHAPTER  III. 
BOBBIN'S    HOME    AND    HOPES. 

When  Spiker  and  Bobbin  drove  away  from  the 
Martins',  on  the  night  of  the  speech-making,  it  was 
in  the  best  of  spirits.  Spiker  was  happy  over 
Zach.'s  promise,  and  Bobbin  was  happy  in  a  sort 
of  reflected  way  because  of  Spiker's  happiness. 
When  the  two  reached  the  village  they  alighted 
and  started  to  their  respective  homes.  Spiker 
opened  a  gate  before  a  pretentious  house,  and 
with  his  overcoat  across  his  arm  stalked  down  the 
graveled  walk  with  an  air  of  authority.  Bobbin 
sped  around  to  a  back  street,  and,  with  his  pinched 
coat  buttoned  up,  directed  his  steps  toward  a  little 
one-story  house  that  had  an  air  of  begging  to 
exist,  and  in  its  jammed  and  battered  appearance 
bore  a  striking  resemblance  to  little  Bobbin  him 
self.  He  raised  the  latch  and  walked  in,  sniffing 


42  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

his  nose  approvingly  as  he  caught  the  smell  of 
supper.  The  meal  was  ready  and  Mrs.  Bobbin 
was  waiting  for  him.  Four  children,  so  near  of  a 
size  that  it  seemed  necessary  to  number  them  to 
distinguish  one  from  the  other,  were  clustered 
round  her,  tugging  at  her  dress  aiid  demanding 
that  the  eating  should  begin.  Mrs.  Bobbin  was  a 
thin,  unhealthy-looking  woman,  whose  clothes 
seemed  only  put  on  for  the  sake  of  decency,  and 
to  be  constantly  threatening  to  fall  off.  She  had 
a  tired  air,  and  looked  as  if  she  had  had  a  weary 
dispute  with  the  world  and  been  floored.  Bob 
bin  himself  was  in  high  spirits  this  evening,  and 
he  gave  the  family  a  kiss  all  round  with  the  air 
of  a  prince  scattering  gold  among  the  poor. 

"You're  awful  late,"  observed  Mrs.  Bobbin. 

"  Thought  you'd  never  come,"  said  the  oldest 
child,  as  they  seated  themselves  at  the  supper 
table. 

"  We  had  the  biggest  time,"  said  the  little  man, 
rubbing  his  hands  as  he  sat  down,  "  about  the  big 
gest  time,  Elvira,  you  ever  heard  of.  You  ought 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  43 

to  have  seen  me  and  Spiker  work.  It  was  always 
Spiker  and  Bobbin.  Nothing  could  be  done  with 
out  Spiker  and  Bobbin.  Finally  we  beat  the 
crowd  and  nominated  —  who  now  do  you  think?" 

"Oh,  I  heard  "said  Mrs.  B. 

"Zach.  Martin,"  said  Bobbin;  "yes,  Zach.  It 
was  about  the  biggest  victory  for  me  and  Spiker 
we  ever  had." 

"I  should  think  you'd  get  tired  of  it,"  said  Mrs. 
Bobbin. 

"Tired  nothing!"  said  Bobbin.  "It's  the  big 
gest  fun  out,  especially  when  you  win.  Really, 
this  nomination  is  my  doing,  for  I  was  the  first  one 
to  suggest  Zach.,  and  it  run  like  wild-fire." 

"Well,  I  suppose  he's  satisfied  now,"  said  his 
wife. 

"  Not  yet,"  returned  Bobbin  ;  "  there's  the  cam 
paign  ahead  yet,  and  it's  going  to  be  a  lively  one  ; 
but  we'll  elect  Zach.  if  it  takes  the  skin  off." 

"Do  you  think  he'll  thank  you  for  it?  "said 
Mrs.  Bobbin. 

"Thank  us!"  exclaimed  Bobbin.     "You  don't 


44  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

know  Zach.  Now,  I'll  tell  you  something  private, 
but  don't  let  it  go  an  inch  further.  Spiker  and  I 
were  the  first  to  take  the  news  to  him,  and  when 
Spiker  told  him  how  we  had  worked,  you  never 
saw  a  man  so  grateful.  He  took  each  of  us  by 
the  hand,  and  promised  Spiker  the  Collector's 
office  sure." 

"Promised  Spiker!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Bobbin. 

"  Yes,"  said  Bobbin,  "  promised  him,  without 
hesitating  a  minute." 

"  He's  very  kind,"  she  responded,  dryly. 

"  You  can  bet  on  that,"  went  on  Bobbin, 
eagerly.  "He  knows  who  to  be  thankful  to." 

"Well,  what  did  he  promise  you?"  queried 
Mrs.  Bobbin,  spreading  another  piece  of  bread  for 
little  Tommy. 

"Hey!"  exclaimed  her  husband,  stopping  to 
look  at  her. 

"Didn't  he  promise  you  anything?"  said  she; 
"  you  were  the  first  to  suggest  him." 

This  seemed  to  be  a  stunner  to  Bobbin.  He 
had  never  thought  of  anything  for  himself.  It 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  45 

had  never  occurred  to  him  as  possible.  He  looked 
at  his  wife  in  a  puzzled  kind  of  way ;  run  his 
tongue  up  to  one  side  of  his  mouth,  and  then  said 

—  casting  his  eyes  reflectively  round  the  room  — 
"Oh,  well  —  I  don't  expect  anything  of  that  kind 

-you    know.     I  don't   go    for   a    man   to  get  an 
office." 

"But  you  need  it,"  said  Mrs.  Bobbin,  "much 
more  than  Mr.  Spiker  does." 

"  Why,  I  know,"  replied  her  husband,  deprecat- 
ingly,  "but  you  know  Spiker  is  rich  and  has  lots  of 
influence  and  all  that,  and,  to  tell  the  truth,  my 
dear,  he  is  a  trifle  cheeky,  though  it's  all  right 
enough,  He  spoke  to  Zach.  about  the  place  him 
self,  and  brought  me  in,  as  if  I  suggested  it,  and 
of  course  I  couldn't  say  anything  else,  so  I  took  it 
up  —  not  that  Spiker  isn't  a  fair  man,  for  he  is." 

"Well,"  said  Mrs.  Bobbin,  with  a  sigh,  "what  is 
it  all  to  amount  to  after  all  ?  " 

"My  dear!"  said  her  husband  with  an  injured 
air,  "  I  did  not  think  to  hear  you  say  that,  and 
before  the  children,  too.  I  hope  the  country  is 


46  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

something,  and  I  hope  our  children  may  live  to 
know  that  their  father  thought  the  country  was 
something." 

"But  what  has  the  country  got  to  do  with  Zach. 
Martin?."  inquired  Mrs.  Bobbin. 

"  Now,  Elvira,  I  really  wish  you  wouldn't," 
responded  Bobbin,  looking  hurt.  "What  do  you 
think  would  become  of  this  Republic  if  the  Oppo 
sition  should  triumph?" 

"  I  don't  know,  I  am  sure,"  replied  his  wife. 

"Ruin,"  said  Bobbin,  "blank  ruin.  Liberty 
would  be  knocked  down  and  dragged  out  —  would 
be  overthrown,  and  your  children  would  be  beg 
gars." 

"And  so  you  are  working  against  that?"  said 
Mrs.  B. 

"  That's  it,"  he  replied.  "  I'm  humble,  it's  true, 
but  I'm  striking  the  bass-drum  of  public  opinion, 
as  it  were,  with  the  hammer  of  individual  sover 
eignty.  I'm  trying  to  save  the  country  —  that's 
enough  for  me." 

Now  this  was  all  very  well  and  very  laudable 


aht  the  Congressman.  47 

in  Mr.  Bobbin,  but  his  wife  thought,  though  she 
did  not  so  express  herself,  that  it  would  be  much 
better  if  her  husband  would  vary  his  dose  of 
liberty  with  bread  and  meat.  The  fact  was  that 
up  to  that  time  Bobbin  had  been  mighty  profuse 
with  the  former,  but  very  chary  of  the  latter.  The 
family  were  chuck-full  of  freedom,  fairly  puffed 
out  with  it,  so  to  speak,  as  if  they  had  the  dropsy, 
but  while  their  souls  were  expanded  with  this  sub 
lime  sentiment;  their  stomachs,  unfortunately,  were 
in  state  of  famine,  and  the  comparison  some  way 
made  Mrs.  Bobbin  indifferent  to  patriotism,  while 
it  made  her  a  devoted  friend  of  family  flour.  She 
owned  the  little  house  where  they  lived  and  a 
quarter  acre  of  land  attached,  and  from  this  little 
patch  of  ground  and  her  odd  jobs  for  the  neigh 
bors  came  the  principal  support  of  the  family. 
Bobbin,  good-natured  soul  that  he  was,  always  had 
some  big  thing  in  contemplation,  but  he  never 
quite  reached  it.  He  was  always  skirmishing,  but 
never  getting  into  an  actual  engagement.  His 
wife's  question  rather  startled  him ;  and,  although 


48  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

he  couldn't  seriously  think  of  so  great  an  office  as 
the  Collectorship,  he  began  to  imagine  that  his 
labors  for  the  party  certainly  did  deserve  recogni 
tion. 

"I  tell  you  what,"  said  the  little  man,  "they 
couldn't  refuse  me  if  I  asked  it." 

"Then  ask  it,"  responded  his  wife. 

"  But  what  ?  "  queried  Bobbin. 

"  Anything  that  will  keep  us  comfortable ;  no 
matter  what,"  returned  she. 

"  I'll  do  it,"  said  Bobbin,  with  wonderful  energy, 
bringing  his  little  fist  down  on  to  the  table.  "  I'll 
tell  Spiker  to-morrow  that  he  must  divide." 

Mrs.  Bobbin  looked  astonished,  but  pleased. 
Such  spirit  was  unusual  with  her  husband.  He 
had  raised  his  fist  again  and  was  threatening  to 

<->  o 

strike  the  table  harder  than  before,  when  there 
came  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  it  left  his  fist  poised 
in  the  air.  A  boy  stuck  his  head  in  and  said  : 

"Mr.  Spiker  wants  to  see  you  down  to  the 
office  right  away." 

Bobbin  started  as  if  it  had  been  a  summons 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  49 

from  an  emperor.  He  grabbed  his  hat,  and  say 
ing  to  his  wife  that  Spiker,  no  doubt,  wanted  to 
consult  him  about  the  campaign,  started  out. 

"Get  in  a  word  for  yourself,  if  you  can,"  said 
she  as  he  was  closing  the  door,  but  the  almost 
frightened  glance  that  came  back  to  her  through 
the  opening  made  her  sorry  she  had  said  anything. 

It  was  a  consultation,  and  Bobbin's  work  was 
laid  out  for  him  with  great  particularity.  A  ratifi 
cation  meeting  was  to  be  held,  and  Bobbin  was  to 
put  up  the  posters,  to  prepare  the  big  wagons,  to 
arrange  the  seats  in  the  grove,  to  borrow  the  flags 
and  the  banners,  to  make  the  frames  for  the  trans 
parencies,  and  at  night,  when  a  torchlight  proces 
sion  was  to  come  off,  he  was  to  carry  a  lamp,  and 
see  that  the  cheers  were  loud  and  frequent.  In 
fact,  Bobbin  was  to  be  filled  with  spontaneous 
enthusiasm  on  the  evening  in  question,  and  was  to 
charge  the  others  with  the  same  effervescing  senti 
ment,  deftly  uncorking  them  at  regular  intervals  to 
keep  them  from  bursting. 

"  Zach.  will  be  at  my  house  when  the  procession 


50  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

passes,"  said  Spiker,  "and  it  must  halt  in  front  of 
the  porch  and  mass  there.  When  I  come  out  with 
him  you  just  bawl  your  best  licks.  Tell  the  boys 
to  bear  down  and  raise  the  roof  off." 

Bobbin  promised,  and  after  the  arranging  of  a 
few  more  details,  the  meeting  broke  up.  One  by 
one  the  citizens  dispersed,  but  Bobbin  lingered. 
He  was  trying  to  get  courage  to  speak  to  Spiker 
abeut  that  little  place,  but  he  failed,  and  as  usual 
in  such  cases,  the  longer  he  waited  the  more  diffi 
cult  the  task  became.  On  one  pretense  or  another 
he  delayed  his  departure,  and  when  Spiker  but 
toned  up  his  coat  to  leave,  Bobbin  stood  in  front 
of  him  and  on  either  side  of  him,  and  kept  saying 
something  to  prolong  the  interview.  Finally, 
when  Spiker  walked  out  and  up  the  street,  Bob 
bin  ambled  along  by  his  side  saying  he  would 
walk  home  by  way  of  the  former's  house.  At  the 
gate,  Bobbin,  instead  of  passing  on,  leaned  against 
the  fence  with  an  air  of  deep  interest  in  the 
approaching  preparations,  and  endeavored  to  think 
of  something  new.  Spiker  passed  coolly  in,  and 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  51 

had  taken  a  step  toward  the  house,  when  Bobbin 
— with  a  feeling  of  desperation  began. 

"Oh!"  he  exclaimed,  "I  was  thinking  (here 
Spiker  turned  back  and  Bobbin  lifted  his  eyes 
contemplatively  toward  the  stars,  and  continued  — 
sliding  off  as  it  were  on  to  a  switch) — about  how 
many  seats  do  you  think,  now?" 

"  Oh,  that's  all  fixed,"  responded  Spiker ;  "  put 
up  enough  for  five  hundred ;  the  rest  can  stand 
up." 

"Oo-hoo,"  said  Bobbin,  "that's  what  I  was 
thinking  myself.  And  the  posters?" 

"Why,  put  up  the  usual  number  in  the  usual 
places,"  said  Spiker. 

"Yes,  that's  all  right,"  said  the  timid  little  man, 
and  then  as  Spiker  turned  again  toward  the  house 
Bobbin  heaved  a  big  sigh. 

"  Well,  good  night !"  he  exclaimed,  and  started 
slowly  on. 

Spiker  had  got  half  way  up  the  walk  when 
Bobbin,  with  a  reckless  bravery  that  amazed  him 
self,  suddenly  stopped  and  called  the  great  man 


52  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

back  to  the  gate,  while  he  returned  to  that  point 
himself.  He  was  a  rod  or  two  away  when  he 
began  saying  in  a  trembling  voice,  "  See  here, 
Spiker,  if  Zach.'s  elected,  don't  you  suppose  I 
could  get  something,  too  ?  " 

Spiker  was  almost  transfixed  with  amazement. 
"What!"  he  exclaimed,  as  if  he  thought  his  ears 
deceived  him.  "  What !  " 

"There!"  said  Bobbin,  putting  his  hand  out  as 
if  to  ward  away  a  blow.  "  It  don't  make  a  bit  of 
difference,  of  course.  I  just  thought  I'd  see  what 
you  thought." 

"You!"  said  Spiker.  "You  have  an  office ! 
Well !  Bobby  !  that's  devilish  good  !  " 

"  I  was  only  fooling,"  said  Bobbin,  with  an  air 
of  hilarity.  "Good  joke,  ain't  it?  Good  night!" 
and  he  sped  away  into  the  darkness. 

But  Spiker  stood  at  the  gate  chuckling,  and 
wondering,  and  thinking,  and  when  Bobbin  had 
reached  the  middle  of  the  block  he  called  to  him. 
The  little  man  turned,  and  with  a  voice  rather 
choked  and  husky  said,  "  What !" 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  53 

"  I'll  think  of  it,  Bobbin,"  shouted  Spiker, 
"  Maybe  something  can  be  done." 

How  the  little  man's  heart  bounded  at  these 
words.  He  grew  half  an  inch  taller  in  a  moment, 
and  when  he  reached  home  he  awakened  his  wife 
and  exclaimed  triumphantly,  "  Well,  by  George, 
I've  done  it" 


54  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER     IV. 

THE    CAMPAIGN. 

Those  were  busy  days  that  succeeded  the 
nomination  of  Zach.  The  campaign  began  in 
earnest,  and  was  what  the  politicians  call  short, 
sharp,  and  decisive.  It  was  a  new  and  pleasant 
experience  for  Zach.,  though  not  without  its  severe 
trials.  At  the  commencement  all  was  clear  sail 
ing,  and  only  plaudits  greeted  him ;  but  after 
awhile  the  opposing  candidate  was  nominated,  and 
though  not  expecting  to  win,  he  made  an  ugly 
fight  for  it.  He  was  a  rough,  but  keen  and  expe 
rienced  debater,  and  when  Zach.  was  compelled  to 
meet  him  he  found  that  his  path  was  not  strewn 
exclusively  with  roses.  The  opposition  newspa 
pers  also  attacked  him  on  every  side,  as  only 
American  newspapers  can,  and  ere  the  campaign 
was  over  a  large  minority  of  the  good  people  of 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  55 

the  Fifth  District  looked  upon  Zachariah  Martin 
as  the  impersonation  of  all  that  was  wicked  and 
devilish.  Still,  as  we  said,  there  was  a  charm 
about  the  situation  that  made  the  experience  a 
pleasant  one.  With  the  larger  half  of  the  crowds 
that  assembled,  Zach.  was  the  hero,  the  Cincinnatus 
who  had  come  forth  at  his  country's  call  to  save 
it.  It  was  pleasant  to  look  down  into  the  eager, 
upturned  faces,  and  to  make  those  faces  grow 
stormy,  sad,  or  merry  at  will.  Sometimes  also  a 
deeper  and  better  feeling  came  over  the  young 
speaker,  and  he  felt,  and  deeply,  the  great  respon 
sibility  that  rested  upon  him,  and  the  duty  he 
owed  to  the  generous  men  who  trusted  him  so 
implicitly.  Not  in  a  politic  and  self-interested 
way  did  he  feel  this,  counting  the  tenure  of  his 
office  and  the  cost  or  benefit  to  himself  in  all  he 
did,  but  in  that  greater  sense  which  makes  the 
statesman  to  resolve  now  and  then  to  do  right, 
though  popular  applause  may  turn  against  him, 
and  to  stand  up  for  truth  and  righteousness  even 
though  the  very  persons  for  whom  he  contends, 


56  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

misjudge  and  crucify  him  therefor.  In  these 
moods  Zach.  grew  impressive,  earnest  and  con 
vincing,  and  the  multitude  followed  him  as  the 
Crusaders  followed  Peter  the  Hermit;  but  such 
moments  of  exaltation  were  few,  and  usually  Zach. 
was  a  very  good  representative  of  the  ordinary 
politician.  He  sometimes  rebelled  against  the 
tricks  and  devices  so  often  employed  on  the 
stump,  but  never  carried  his  opposition  far.  His 
confidential  advisers  .were  men  who  wanted  to 
win,  and  were  not  very  scrupulous  as  to  the 
means  employed.  With  them  sentiment  was  an 
excellent  thing  on  the  platform,  but  it  had  no 
place  in  the  committee  room,  and  they  scouted 
the  virtuous  givings-out  of  public  speakers  as 
"springes  to  catch  woodcocks,"  and  the  solemn 
declarations  of  the  party  platform  as  "  glittering 
generalities." 

I  am  not  moralizing  in  this  story.  I  am  not 
writing  a  tale  with  any  well-defined  idea  of  a 
moral,  I  believe,  but  O  !  for  the  time  when  a 
truer  manhood  shall  come  into  our  political  life , 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  57 

when  more  of  our  politicians  shall  be  statesmen, 
and  more  of  our  statesmen  patriots ;  when  insin 
cerity,  trickery  and  cunning  shall  meet  with  con 
tempt  instead  of  reward,  and  the  name  "politician" 
shall  be  no  longer  a  term  of  reproach. 

Let  no  one  scoff  at  this.  There  is  need  of 
such  men.  There  is  need  of  more  true  men  in 
all  the  grades  of  politics,  from  the  highest  to  the 
lowest.  Holding  aloof  in  the  "  I-am-holier-than- 
thou"  sort  of  spirit  will  not  answer.  No  Ameri 
can  can  be  truly  faithful  to  his  duty  as  a  citizen 
who  is  not  in  the  larger  and  better  sense  of  the 
word  a  politician.  Bad  men  degrade  politics  by 
mingling  actively  in  political  affairs.  Let  good 
ones  exalt  by  lending  to  it  the  grace  and  virtue 
of  their  own  respectability. 

Well,  the  campaign  went  on.  Peggy  grew 
strangely  interested  in  it,  and  very  proud  of  Zach. 
His  father  grew  anxious  and  troubled,  and  as  for 
his  mother,  the  charges  which  flowed  from  the 
opposition  newspapers  against  her  boy  almost  set 
her  frantic.  When  the  joint  debate  between  Zach. 


5  8  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

and  his  opponent  came  off  at  Hiltonville,  she 
attended,  and  actually  cried  with  rage  at  the  cruel 
words  of  the  base  man,  who  so  ridiculed  and 
abused  the  pride  of  her  heart.  She  could  have 
scalped  him  on  the  spot,  and  might  have  done  so 
had  she  not  been  restrained  by  wiser  counsel. 

"And  this  young  man,"  said  that  distinguished 
speaker,  "  this  young  man,  hardly  escaped  from 
the  protecting  wing  of  his  mother,  prattles  to  you 
about  duty.  You,  gentlemen,  whose  heads  are 
gray  in  the  service,  who  saw  the  sun  rise  and  set 
upon  the  bloody  fields  of  Tippecanoe  and  Lundy's 
Lane ;  who  saw  the  charge  at  Chepultepec,  and 
the  banners  of  the  Republic  waving  over  the  halls 
of  the  Montezumas.  This  man  prates  to  you  of 
duty  —  a  beardless  boy  instructing  gray-haired 
veterans,  Narcissus  directing  Apollo,  an  unfledged 
gosling  leading  the  gods." 

O !  how  the  words  stung,  and  stung  Zach.,  too, 
as  well  as  his  mother,  but  he  had  got  partly  used 
to  them,  while  all  was  new  and  terrible  to  her. 

"  You  didn't  give  it  to  him  half  hard  enough," 


Zachariah)  the  Congressman.  59 

said  Mrs.  Martin,  after  the  speeches  were  over  and 
they  were  on  their  way  home.  "  The  nasty  brute, 
to  get  up  there  and  abuse  and  insult  me !  Why 
didn't  you  pitch  into  his  mother,  Zach.?  though  I 
suppose  if  he  ever  had  one  he  brought  her  gray 
hairs  in  sorrow  to  the  grave  long  ago." 

Zach.  promised  to  lash  him  next  time,  and, 
after  giving  him  some  minute  instructions  as  to 
just  how  he  was  to  take  the  offender  down,  Mrs. 
Martin  subsided  into  something  like  calmness. 

And  so  the  weeks  went  by  until,  finally,  Zach. 
came  home  hoarse  and  tired,  and  the  campaign 
was  ended.  He  was  very  glad  it  was  over,  and 
took  his  seat  by  the  fire  with  a  big  sigh  of  relief. 
He  had  little  anxiety  about  the  election,  for  the 
district  gave  a  large  majority  for  his  party,  so  he 
could  wait  complacently.  The  second  day  passed 
and  brought  him  the  news.  He  was  elected  very 
triumphantly,  and,  as  the  word  spread,  the  roll  of 
the  drum  and  the  shouts  of  the  villagers  warned 
him  that  a  call  of  congratulation  was  in  contem 
plation. 


60  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

And  they  came,  Spiker  and  Bobbin  and  the 
rest.  The  fife  shrieked,  the  horns  tooted,  and  once 
more,  for  the  last  time  Zach.  fervently  hoped,  he 
heard  the  words  of  a  campaign  song  composed  in 
his  honor,  but  which  had  grown  wearily  familiar  to 
him.  When  the  chorus  rang  out,  however, 

Brave  Zach.,  strong  Zach., 

None  so  well  as  he 
Plants  upon  the  battlements 

The  flag  of  liberty, 

Mrs.  Martin  drew  herself  up  proudly  and  laid  her 
hand  upon  her  son's  shoulder  with  an  air  of 
supreme  enjoyment.  Then  came  hand-shaking 
and,  inside  the  house,  where  a  large  part  of  the 
crowd  retired,  a  recounting  of  experiences.  It  was 
singular  what  deference  was  paid  to  Mr.  Spiker. 
Next  to  Zach.  he  was  the  lion.  When  he  opened 
his  mouth,  which  was  by  no  means  unfrequent, 
every  other  tongue  was  stilled.  Without  his 
saying  so,  the  impression  was  out  some  way  that 
the  victory  was  directly  traceable  to  his  efforts. 
Spiker  was  one  of  those  big,  positive  characters 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  61 

who  go  through  the  world  elbowing  everybody 
and  stepping  on  men  as  they  do  on  the  rounds  of 
a  ladder.  To  dispute  with  him  meant  a  scene, 
and  as  most  men  hate  scenes,  he  generally  traveled 
along  in  his  self-asserting  way  unmolested.  Such 
persons  are  by  no  means  dangerous,  and,  when 
sufficient  cause  presents  itself,  always  find  plenty 
of  men  to  oppose  and  vanquish  them  ;  but  people 
do  not  tear  down  stone  walls  when  there  is  an 
easy  path  around  them,  unless  it  becomes  neces 
sary.  So  when  some  one  suggested  a  plan  in  Mr. 
Spiker's  presence,  and  that  gentleman  replied  in 
his  big  voice,  "  No,  no!  stuff — nonsense!  it  won't 
do  at  all!"  the  other  party  was  not  likely  to  press 
it,  unless  it  was  a  very  important  and  vital  matter. 
To  Bobbin,  meek-eyed  and  timid  as  he  was,  the 
presence  of  Spiker  was  simply  overpowering,  and 
the  idea  of  disputing  with  him  was  so  absurd  as  to 
be  entirely  out  of  the  range  of  his  imagination. 
His  business  was  to  laugh  when  Spiker  laughed, 
to  frown  when  he  frowned,  and  generally  to  play 
a  sort  of  minor  accompaniment  to  the  major  part 


62  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

performed  by  his  great  exemplar.  But  Bobbin  was 
so  convenient  to  Spiker  as  to  be  almost  a  neces 
sity,  and  the  great  man  had  his  plans  for  the  little 
man  which,  as  usual,  were  like  to  be  successful. 
Bobbin  had  never  opened  his  head  to  Spiker  about 
the  office  since  the  night  referred  to,  but  he  knew 
by  the  mysterious  or  knowing  winks  bestowed 
upon  him  now  and  then  that  the  latter  had  not 
forgotten  it.  To-night  Bobbin  watched  Zach.  tim 
idly,  and  stood  near  him  as  if  owing  him  an 
apology  for  so  doing,  but  all  the  time  he  was  bask 
ing  in  the  sunshine  of  Spiker's  eyes,  ready  to  look 
stern  when  Spiker  looked  stern,  and  to  draw  down 
his  mouth  when  Spiker  drew  his  down.  If  the 
latter  told  a  story,  it  was  Bobbin  who  enjoyed  it 
most ;  and  if  his  patron  was  looking  at  him,  he 
tried  to  grow  very  red  in  the  face,  and  to  appear 
almost  suffocated  with  the  mirth  he  was  trying  to 
restrain.  During  the  evening  Bobbin  saw  Spiker 
take  Zach.  into  a  corner  and  talk  to  him  earnestly, 
now  and  then  glancing  to  where  he  (Bobbin) 
stood.  The  latter  tried  to  look  unconscious,  but 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  63 

he  shifted  around  uneasily  on  his  feet,  and  laughed 
very  loud  at  a  point  made  by  one  of  the  company, 
when,  in  fact,  there  was  nothing  to  laugh  at. 
Finally  Spiker  called,  "  Bobbin,  come  here!"  Bob 
bin  looked  surprised  at  the  summons,  and  tried  'to 
appear  very  unconscious  as  he  approached  the 
two  gentlemen.  Spiker  collared  him  as  he  would 
a  school-boy. 

"  I've  been  telling  Zach.,"  said  he,  "just  what 
you've  done  in  this  'ere  campaign  !  By  thunder,  I 
never  saw  a  better  worker !  Now,  you're  as  poor 
as  a  sand-hill  crane.  You've  got  half  a  dozen 
children  that  look  as  if  they'd  inherited  a  rag 
factory.  You  ought  to  have  some  way  to  live, 
and  that's  what  I've  been  telling  Zach.  There's 
nothing  here  that  I  know  of,  but  there  are  any 
quantity  of  places  in  Washington  that  a  member 
of  Congress  can  get  whenever  he's  a  mind  to. 
Now,  my  plan  is  that  Zach.  get  you  a  place  there. 
He's  agreed,  and  says  he'll  do  it  if  he  can,  and 
I  know  he  can.  Now,  that's  settled.  When  a 
man  does  good  work,  by  George  I  like  to  see 


64  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

him  paid  for  it,  and,  Bobbin,  you'll  be  paid,  mind 
that!" 

"Oh,  I  don't  want  any  pay,"  said  Bobbin,  with 
the  tears  glistening-  in  his  eyes. 

"Stuff!"  cried  Spiker,  slapping  him  on  the 
back.  "  You  do  want  it,  and  you'll  get  it,  eh, 
Zach.  ?  " 

"  I  shall  surely  feel  delighted  to  help  you, 
Bobbin,"  said  Zach,  "and  as  Spiker  says,  I  pre 
sume  I  can.  At  any  rate,  I'll  do  my  best,  and  I 
owe  you  much  besides." 

"That's  the  talk,"  said  Spiker.  "What  did  I 
tell  you,  Bobbin?"  and  slapping  the  little  man 
again,  Spiker  wiped  his  face  and  puffed,  and 
looked  immensely  placid.  Promising  to  talk  over 
the  matter  again,  the  subject  was  dropped  here, 
and  soon  after  the  company  separated.  Bobbin 
went  home  in  a  state  of  bewilderment.  He  was 
wondering  whether  he  could  ever  do  enough  to 
repay  Spiker,  and  how  he  would  act  in  the  new 
and  great  life  that  seemed  opening  before  him. 
And  thus  the  campaign  ended. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  65 


CHAPTER  V. 

IN    WHICH    ZACHARIAH     ENTERS     UPON     NEW    SCENES. 

The  engagement  existing  between  Peggy  and 
Zach.  was  not  a  public  one.  Only  the  family 
knew  of  it,  and  so  the  remarks  of  gossips  did 
not  annoy  the  young  people.  Peggy  had  gained 
a  conception  of  what  would  be  required  of  her 
when  she  came  to  support  a  part  of  the  dignity 
of  Zach.'s  new  position,  and  she  had  tried  hard  to 
qualify  herself  for  the  place  —  that  is,  she  toned 
herself  down  somewhat,  tried  to  read  the  various 
ponderous  books  that  Zach.  provided  for  her,  and 
tried  to  learn  a  good  many  things  which,  under 
other  circumstances,  she  would  have  heartily 
despised.  Among  the  books  thus  supplied  her 
were  several  on  drawing,  and  these  had  a  fasci 
nation  for  her.  Though  unaided,  she  developed 

in   a  few  months  a  decided  cleverness  in  sketch- 
E 


66  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

ing,  and  frequently  delighted  Zach.  with  her  profi 
ciency  in  this  respect.  With  most  of  the  other 
studies,  however,  she  was  at  natural  enmity,  and 
do  what  she  would  she  could  not  become  inter 
ested.  Perhaps  Zach.  expected  rather  too  much 
of  her.  Few  women  would  be  fascinated  with 
Mill  on  Political  Economy,  but  this  was  one  of  the 
works  that  Zach.  commended  to  her,  and  even  urged 
most  strongly  upon  her  attention.  Poor  Peggy 
tugged  away  at  it  until  her  little  brain  was  racked 
to  bursting,  but  it  was  no  use.  The  ideas  and  the 
words  faded  out  of  her  memory  before  they  were 
fairly  lost  to  the  eye. 

"To  think,"  said  she,  "that  the  women  down 
there  are  familiar  with  such  great  books  as  these ! 
I  know  I  will  seem  like  a  fool  to  them,  for  I  can 
not  understand  it,"  and  then  she  would  go  poring 
over  the  pages  again  in  the  vain  hope  of  remem 
bering  a  passage  with  which  she  could  delight 
Zach. 

And  so  the  time  intervening  between  the  elec 
tion  and  Zach.'s  taking  his  seat  passed  away.  It 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  67 

had  been  arranged  that  immediately  after  his 
arrival  in  Washington  he  should  secure  a  position 
for  Bobbin,  if  possible.  The  collectorship  for 
Spiker  was  practically  in  his  own  bestowal,  so 
there  was  no  question  about  that.  The  night 
before  Zach.'s  departure  a  company  of  his  neigh 
bors  assembled  to  bid  him  good-bye.  It  was  rather 
a  merry  company  until  about  the  hour  for  sepa 
ration,  when  a  somewhat  sad  tinge  was  given  it. 
Some  one  proposed  the  health  of  Zach.  in  a  little 
speech,  to  which  he  responded  good-humoredly. 
A  guest  then  called  for  the  old  gentleman,  and  the 
call  being  taken  up  loudly,  there  was  nothing  for 
Mr.  Martin  to  do  but  come  forward.  He  did  this, 
but  not  blushing  and  stammering,  as  they  expected. 
On  the  contrary,  he  was  calm  and  possessed,  and 
surprised  them  by  speaking  deliberately  and  to 
the  point.  '  He  closed  by  saying:  "My  friends,  as 
you  all  know,  I  am  not  a  speaker  or  a  politi 
cian.  I  look  upon  my  son's  election,  however,  with 
pride,  and  am  grateful  to  you  for  so  generously 
aiding  him.  He  has  been  taught  to  be  faithful, 


68  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

honest,  and  industrious  in  his  humble  duties  at 
home,  and  I  pray  heaven  that  he  may  prove 
equally  so  in  his  public  career.  While  he  does, 
may  God  in  His  goodness  bless  and  spare  him." 
The  earnestness  of  the  old  man,  into  whose  eyes 
the  tears  came  fast  as  he  spoke,  dissipated  the 
mirth  which  had  prevailed,  and  the  crowd  pressed 
Zach.'s  hand,  with  a  solemn  prayer  for  his  happi 
ness  as  they  bade  him  good-bye. 

The  next  morning  the  carriage  stood  at  the 
door  which  was  to  carry  the  young  statesman  to 
the  depot ;  the  trunks  and  valises  were  aboard, 
and  he  turned  to  bid  a  farewell  to  his  father  and 
mother  ere  he  started.  Peggy  stood  by  with  a 
half-frightened  look  and  with  a  presentiment  in 
her  heart  that  she  was  seeing  the  last  of  Zach. 
He  took  her  and  kissed  her  tenderly,  and  was 
turning  away  silently  when,  with  a  sudden  impulse, 
she  threw  her  arms  about  his  neck  and,  looking  up 
into  his  face,  pale  and  anxious,  said  almost  wildly: 
"Oh,  Zach.,  you  will  not  forget  me,  will  you? 
Promise  me  you  will  not." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  69 

Zach.  was  not  used  to  partings,  and  he  was 
easily  affected.  He  clasped  her  close  to  him,  and 
his  voice  trembled  as  he  replied : 

"  Forget  you,  Peggy !  When  I  do,  may  heaven 
forget  me." 

He  kissed  her  again  and  was  gone.  It  all 
seemed  very  foolish  to  Zach.  when  he  thought  of 
it,  and  it  will  seem  still  more  foolish  to  those  who, 
in  the  ceaseless  going  and  coming  incident  to 
modern  travel,  forget  what  last  partings  are ;  but 
it  was  a  solemn  thing  to  Peggy,  and  she  went  to 
her  room  sad,  dispirited,  almost  despairing. 

Zach.'s  blues  lasted  him  until  he  was  seated  in 
the  cars  and  was  whirling  away  toward  the  goal 
of  his  ambition.  The  ones  who  stay,  behind 
always  have  the  hardest  of  it,  but  there  were 
many  things  beside  the  mere  spectacle  of  new 
sights  to  distract  and  divert  Zach.  Falling  into 
a  conversation  with  a  gentleman,  it  soon  became 
known  to  the  latter  that  his  fellow-traveler  was  a 
member  of  Congress,  and  Zach.  became  the 
center  of  attraction.  As  luck  would  have  it  — 


7o  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

and  what  a  queer  companion  this  same  luck  is 
oftentimes  —  the  gentleman  was  himself  a  resident 
of  Washington,  and  soon  introduced  himself  as 
Richard  Marmaluke,  He  was  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  daughter,  the  former  a  stately  woman, 
very  elegant  in  her  dress  and  manners;  the  latter 
a  most  beautiful  young  lady,  who  made  a  very 
decided  impression  on  Zach.  at  first  sight.  The 
ladies  received  him  very  graciously,  and  with  that 
nameless  ease  and  air  of  good  breeding  which 
charmed  while  it  embarrassed  the  young  member. 
Before  he  met  them  he  flattered  himself  that  he 
was  pretty  well  posted  in  social  as  well  as  politi 
cal  affairs,  but  he  hadn't  been  long  in  their  com 
pany  until  he  discovered  that  many  of  his  expres 
sions  were  uncouth  and  inelegant,  and  he  found 
that  he,  who  could  stand  unawed  in  the  presence 
of  a  vast  audience  of  his  own  people,  felt  sadly 
rough  and  unpolished  in  the  society  of  two  unpre 
tending  ladies.  In  fact,  so  far  as  knowledge  of 
the  polite  world  was  concerned,  Zach.  was  totally 
ignorant,  and  he  blushed  guiltily  when  he  was 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  71 

forced  to  admit  that  he  knew  very  little  of  the 
theater,  was  unacquainted  with  the  German,  didn't 
even  know  the  meaning  of  the  "kettle-drum,"  and 
actually  never  heard  an  opera  in  his  life.  The 
ladies  made  his  ignorance  tolerable,  however,  by 
failing  to  seem  surprised  at  it,  and  he  found  him 
self  getting  on  swimmingly.  For  two  days  he 
traveled  in  their  company,  and  at  the  end  of  this 
time  was  ready  to  swear  that  he  had  never  spent 
two  such  profitable  and  pleasant  days  in  his  life. 
And  how  he  was  drawn  toward  the  elegant  young 
lady,  who  had  thus  accidentally  become  his  travel 
ing  companion !  When  he  looked  at  her,  and 
reflected  that  she  was  a  belle  in  the  best  society 
of  the  capital,  as  he  soon  made  up  his  mind  she 
must  be,  he  not  only  felt  proud  of  her  acquaintance, 
but  very  much  satisfied  with  himself.  He  began 
to  think  that  it  was  no  accident  which  had  taken 
him  out  of  the  sphere  in  which  the  Martins  from 
time  immemorial  had  dwelt,  but  his  own  efforts 
and  his  surpassing  abilities,  that  had  thus  exalted 
him.  He  began  to  think  that  Spiker's  words  were 


72  The  D.  G.  dr1  L.  Series. 

literally  true,  and  that  Martin's  Corners  was  about 
to  throw  a  statesman  on  the  world  who  would 
astound  it.  And  all  the  time  he  could  not 
help  contrasting  Miss  Marmaluke  with  Peggy. 
"Peggy!"  some  way  the  very  name  sounded  so 
coarse  and  countrified  to  him. 

Miss  Marmaluke  was  a  rather  sharp-featured 
young  lady,  with  light  hair,  "  frizzed,"  and  large 
blue  eyes.  She  had  a  way  of  languidly  closing 
the  latter,  and  then  opening  them  suddenly,  as  if  to 
dazzle  her  companion  by  leaving  him  in  darkness 
for  a  moment  and  then  turning  the  supernatural 
radiance  of  these  orbs  upon  him.  Some  men 
would  have  imagined  this  to  be  the  trick  of  a 
coquette,  but  Zach.,  inexperienced  soul,  only 
thought  that  something  about  her  was  excessively 
bewitching  and  difficult  to  resist.  There  was  none 
of  this  languor  about  Peggy.  Her  eyes  were 
brown  as  was  her  hair,  and  they  were  always 
merry  with  good  humor  or  glistening  with  tears. 
They  never  drooped  in  the  exquisite  style  peculiar 
to  Miss  Marmaluke,  but  always  spoke,  as  did  her 


Zachariak)  the  Congressman.  73 

tongue,  all  that  was  in  her  heart.  And  then,  Miss 
Marmaluke's  hands  !  They  were  the  slender  aris 
tocratic  hands  that  Zach.  had  read  about,  and  the 
gloves  fitted  them  as  if  the  kid  out  of  which  they 
were  made  had  been  ordained  for  this  service  par 
ticularly,  and  had  walked  up  to  the  glove-maker 
with  the  measure  of  Miss  Marmaluke's  hand 
upon  his  back  and  had  said,  "  Here  I  am,  cut  me 
up  in  her  behalf  alone."  Ah,  Peggy's  black  kids, 
even  when  she  wore  them,  looked  sadly  different 
from  these.  And  Miss  Marmaluke's  hair  was 
arranged  so  gracefully!  How  it  became  her 
peculiar  style  of  beauty,  and  how  ridiculous 
seemed  Peggy,  as  Zach.  remembered  her,  with 
her  two  long  braids,  or  with  her  absurd  little 
knot  stuck  like  a  turnip  on  the  back  of  her 
head. 

The  sun  was  setting  as  they  entered  Washing 
ton,  gilding  with  gold  the  dome  of  the  Capitol, 
which  Zach.  looked  out  upon  with  wonder  and 
pride  —  wonder  at  its  loftiness  and  grandeur, 
pride  that  he  was  one  of  the  privileged  few  to 


74  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

take  possession  of  it.  At  the  depot  he  bade  his 
new  friends  adieu  for  the  present,  not  without 
some  rather  warm  expressions  on  both  sides,  and 
not  until  he  had  promised  to  visit  them  at  their 
home  early  and  often.  Then  he  took  a  carriage 
and  was  driven  to  a  prominent  hotel.  He  was 
early  on  the  ground,  few  members  had  arrived,  and 
he  was  assigned  pleasant  quarters.  Perhaps  Zach. 
felt  rather  crest-fallen  that  the  clerk  did  not  recog 
nize  his  name  and  seem  impressed  with  his 
arrival,  but  the  bell  whanged  away  behind  the 
counter,  and  the  boy  was  told  to  "show  the  gen 
tleman  to  46,"  as  if  he  were  the  most  ordinary 
traveler  in  the  world.  However,  Zach.  was  not  to 
be  cast  down  by  this.  He  dressed  and  went  to 
tea,  then  bent  his  steps  to  the  Capitol,  which  he 
examined  long  and  critically  by  the  light  of  the 
moon,  which  was  shining  brightly  on  the  magnifi 
cent  dome  of  the  great  structure.  Returning  to 
his  hotel  and  to  his  room  at  last  he  fell  to  think 
ing,  and  his  thoughts,  do  what  he  would,  were  not 
of  home  or  of  Peggy,  but  of  his  new  friends,  the 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  75 

Marmalukes,  and  particularly  of  Belle,  the  daugh 
ter.  He  could  not  help  comparing  her  once  more 
with  the  young  ladies  of  his  own  vicinity  at  home, 
and  it  was  almost  with  pain  that  he  thought  of 
Peggy  again,  with  her  simple  gown  and  her 
freckles.  Would  she  ever  attain  such  grace,  such 
a  demeanor,  to  say  nothing  of  such  beauty?  He 
felt  that  it  was  impossible,  and  he  sighed.  Just 
then  a  knock  came  at  the  door,  and  a  servant 
entered  with  a  card.  Zach.  took  it  and  read  : 


OMonel 


Immediately  the  young  man  was  wide  awake. 
He  straightened  himself  and  bade  the  servant 
show  the  visitor  up.  It  was  his  first  caller. 


7  6  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

IN    WHICH    MR.    BARNCASTLE    JOINS    THE    PROCESSION. 

Zach.  had  only  time  to  wonder  who  his  titled 
visitor  could  be  when  there  was  another  knock  at 
the  door,  and  the  servant  ushered  into  the  room  a 
very  striking-looking  personage.  He  was  a  man 
of  forty-five  or  fifty  years,  clean  shaven,  of  medium 
size,  but  slim,  and  dressed  with  a  mixture  of 
shabbiness  and  elegance  that  puzz'ed  you.  Glanc 
ing  at  his  shoes  and  the  bottom  of  his  breeches 
you  would  have  set  him  down  as  a  frequent  patron 
of  the  debtor's  prison ;  looking  at  his  waistcoat 
and  his  gold  eyeglasses,  you  would  have  marked 
him  as  a  shrewd  lawyer  with  a  comfortable  prac 
tice.  Proceed  to  his  shirt  collar,  and  thence  to  his 
hair,  and  you  would  have  made  up  your  mind  that 
he  was  a  chemist,  a  scientist,  an  alchemist,  perhaps, 
engrossed  with  his  studies,  with  time  for  only  pass- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  77 

ing  care  to  his  personal  appearance.  This  in 
repose.  When  he  opened  his  mouth,  however, 
and  began  to  speak,  you  recalled  all  your  opinions 
and  confessed  that  you  did  not  know  what  he 
was,  but  only  that  he  was  Colonel  Ebenezer  Barn- 
castle. 

Zach.  rose  as  his  visitor  entered,  and  advanced 
a  step.  Mr.  Barncastle  paused,  threw  back  his 
head,  and,  jerking  his  mouth  into  a  smile,  said  — 

"  I  beg  pardon,  but  have  I  the  honor  of 
addressing  the  Honorable  Zachariah  Martin,  of 
the  Fifth  District?" 

"  That  is  my  name,"  said  Zach.,  "  and  I  have  the 
honor  to  represent  the  Fifth  District." 

"Just  so,"  said  Mr.  Barncastle,  advancing  and 
shaking  hands.  "You  got  my  card,  Mr.  Martin?" 

Zach.  replied  in  the  affirmative,  and  offered  his 
visitor  a  chair. 

"  Mr.  Martin,"  said  Barncastle,  again  throwing 
back  his  head  and  smiling,  "we  are  glad  to  see 
you  among  us,  sir.  When  I  say  that  we  expect 
something  of  you  beyond  the  ordinary  level 


78  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

of  an  ordinary  member,  you  understand  me  ? 
Hay?" 

"  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  fill  the  place 
worthily,"  responded  Zach.,  modestly. 

"Fill  the  place!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Barncastle. 
"  Why,  sir,  you  will  overflow  it.  [See  Frontis 
piece.]  We  know,  sir,  of  your  innate  modesty, 
and  we  know  also  of  your  unquestioned  ability. 
Genius,  Mr.  Martin,"  here  Barncastle  assumed 
the  attitude  of  an  orator,  "  true  genius  can  not 
be  hidden  under  humble  guise  or  remain  unknown 
in  desert  waste.  It  bursts  out  like  the  sun  of 
noon  from  under  the  morning  cloud,  and  shines 
the  brighter  for  its  temporary  obscuration.  Try 
to  contract  it  and  it  expands;  consume  it  and  it 
rises  from  its  ashes;  shatter  it  and  it  gathers 
new  strength  and  comes  up  smiling  at  the  last 
round.  Genius,  guardian  angel  of  my  native  land, 
I  hail  thee!  Hay,  Mr.  Martin!  Right." 

Mr.  Barncastle  wiped  his  forehead  with 
an  ancient  red  silk  handkerchief  and  looked 
thoughtful 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  79 

*'  I  agree  with  you,  Colonel,"  said  Zach.,  "  that 
true  genius  can  not  always  remain  in  obscurity ; 
but  I  fear  you  flatter  me." 

"  Don't  speak  of  it,  my  friend,"  returned  Barn- 
castle,  looking  hurt,  "don't  speak  of  it.  We,  sir, 
who  are  used  to  public  characters  and  public  life, 
search  out  the  true  grain  from  among  a  great  deal 
of  chaff —  I  must  say  that,  Mr.  Martin,  a  great 
deal  of  chaff —  and  when  we  see  a  genuine  kernel 
we  know  it.  I  called  on  you  thus  early  because 
we  know  it.  I  want  to  congratulate  you  on  the 
magnificent  stand  you  have  taken  for  liberty." 

Mr.  Barncastle  here  reached  to  his  coat-tail 
and  took  from  his  pocket  a  newspaper,  rather 
faded  and  old,  and  unfolded  it.  It  proved  to  be 
the  Hiltonville  "Herald,"  and  contained  one  of 
Zach.'s  speeches  in  full. 

"  You  see,"  said  Barncastle,  "  I  do  not  speak 
unadvisedly.  I  hold  here  your  speech  at  Hilton 
ville.  I  regard  it  as  an  effort  worthy  of  a  Clay,  sir, 
worthy  of  a  Clay.  Forgive  me,  but  you  have  never 
heard  this  passage  from  another's  lips.  Listen  : 


8o  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  My  countrymen,  behold  that  flag !  Look  upon 
the  white  and  blue  and  crimson  banner  of  our 
country!  Shall  it  be  polluted?  Shall  those  stripes 
be  soiled?  Shall  the  stars  that  now  gleam  so  bril 
liantly  be  dimmed  by  the  sacrilegious  hand  of 
the  opposition  ?  Methinks  I  hear  a  million  voices 
respond  in  one  thundering  NO,  and  there  is 
rejoicing  in  heaven  over  the  honor  and  patriotism 
of  my  countrymen." 

Mr.  Barncastle's  voice  faltered  as  he  closed, 
and  he  turned  away  and  took  out  his  handker 
chief  to  blow  his  nose.  Zach.  thought  the  extract 
rather  neat  himself,  but  he  was  somewhat  sur 
prised  to  see  how  it  affected  his  new-found  friend. 
However,  he  felt  pleased  and  flattered. 

"  I  call  that,"  said  Barncastle,  turning  to  him, 
"a  sentiment  worthy  of  a  Jackson,  and  expressed 
in  the  sublime  language  of  a  Webster.  We  have 
need  of  more  such  fearless  advocates,  sir  —  more 
of  them!  In  these  days,  sir,  we  want  men  with 
sediment  in  them." 

"  I  fear  you  make  too  much  of  my  little  effort," 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  8  i 

said  Zach.,  "but  I  tell  you  frankly,  I  do  intend,  for 
one,  to  speak  plainly  and,  if  possible,  to  the  point." 

"  And  that's  what  delights  us,  sir,"  responded 
Barncastle.  "We  see  too  much  of  mediocrity  in 
the  counsels  of  the  nations.  It  delights  us  to  be 
able  to  say  to  one  like  you,  'Welcome  among 
us.'" 

"You  have  been  a  great  deal  in  public  life,  I 
see,  Colonel,"  said  Zach. 

"Always,  my  friend,  always,"  returned  the 
Colonel,  with  a  matter-of-fact  air." 

"Closely  connected  with  the  government,  no 
doubt?"  inquired  Zach. 

"Intimately,  intimately,"  responded  Barncastle. 
"As  Senator  Brookhaven  was  saying  to  me  this 
morning,  'Colonel,'  says  he,  'what  you  don't  know 
about  public  life  ain't  worth  knowing,'  but  I  always 
pardon  Brookhaven,  he  is  such  an  old  friend,  you 
know." 

Zach.  felt  a  sort  of  awe  creep  over  him.  So 
here  was  an  intimate  friend  of  the  great  Brook- 
haven,  whom  he  had  worshipped  for  years,  and 


82  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Barncastle  spoke  of  him  as  if  his  acquaintance 
was  the  most  ordinary  thing  imaginable. 

"May  I  ask  what  position  you  now  hold?" 
inquired  Zach.,  respectfully. 

"  Officially  none,"  replied  Barncastle,  "  unoffi 
cially  a  dozen.  I  was  half  a  mind  to  go  into  active 
service  again  at  the  President's  solicitation,  but  I 
said  to  myself, '  Barncastle,  you  old  dog,  if  you  want 
to  serve  the  country,  remain  outside ;  be  untram- 
meled  but  be  vigilant.'  '  Colonel,'  said  the  Presi 
dent  to  me,  'Will  you  never  let  me  put  you  in  a 
place  where  your  experience  and  knowledge  can 
be  of  service  to  the  country?'  '  Mr.  President/  I 
answered,  '  Now,  I  am  your  friend ;  socially  and 
politically  your  friend.  No  one  accuses  me  of  sel 
fish  or  ulterior  motives  in  visiting  you;  but  were  I 
in  your  Cabinet  all  my  acts  would  be  misconstrued. 
So,'  says  I,  sliding  off  into  verse, 

*  Let  statesmen  die  and  principles  decay, 
But  give  the  gray-haired  veteran  his  way.' 

What  I  want,  Mr.  Martin,  is  the  consciousness  here 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  83 

in  this  breast  (Mr.  Barncastle  struck  his  stomach 
by  mistake)  of  doing  my  whole  duty.  I  ask  no 
more.  You  understand?" 

"I  see,"  said  Zach.,  "you  are  undoubtedly  cor 
rect." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Barncastle.  "  The  party 
wants  advisers.  •  I  give  it  my  counsel.  The  man 
agers  say:  'We  want  success.  We  must  have 
success.  What  shall  we  do  to  obtain  it?'  I 
answer:  'Organize!  organize,'  Mr.  Martin!  The 
Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end,  the 
top  and  the  bottom  sardine,  I  may  say,  of  suc 
cessful  politics,  is  organization." 

"  Most  true,"  said  Zach.,  admiringly. 

"Hey!  That's  it,"  said  Barncastle,  drawing  back 
and  looking  at  Zach.  and  smiling  triumphantly. 
"  But  I  must  be  going.  The  Secretary  of  State 
gives  a  little  supper  to-night,  and  no  amount  of 
begging  would  let  me  off.  Mr.  Martin,  your  hand." 
Barncastle  rose  and  extended  his  palm  graciously. 

"I  am  sorry,"  said  Zach.,  "that  you  can  not 
keep  me  company  a  little  longer,  but  of  course  I 


84  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

can  not  detain  you  under  the  circumstances.  I  am 
very  grateful  to  you  and  hope  you  will  not  forget 
me." 

"  Forget  you,  Mr.  Martin,"  exclaimed  Barn- 
castle.  "Never!  You  have  my  confidence;  know 
me  better.  You  will  find  us  straightforward,  gen 
erous,  whole-souled  fellows  to  our  friends,  but  the 
very  devil  to  our  enemies.  Good-night!  and  let 
your  motto  be,  Integrity,  the  keystone  of  the  arch." 
He  shook  Zach.'s  hand  once  more  warmly  and  was 
gone.  The  latter  turned  back  gratified,  delighted. 

"The  high  road  to  success  seems  open,"  said 
he,  "and  a  coach-and-four  to  drive  me  over  it. 
Here  I  am  received  by  the  intimate  friend  of  the 
President,  from  whom  I  have  had  words  of  praise 
that  make  my  cheeks  burn.  Was  there  ever  so 
lucky  a  mortal?"  He  had  got  thus  far  when  there 
was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and,  opening  it,  there 
stood  Barncastle  again,  smiling,  but  looking 
terribly  perplexed. 

"Pardon  me,  Mr.  Martin,"  said  he,  "but  a  most 
unlucky  thing  has  occurred.  Here  I  have  just 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  85 

fallen  in  with  Admiral  Griggs,  who  is  suddenly 
called  to  New  York,  and  will  likely  be  dashed 
away  on  a  cruise  without  a  penny  in  his  pocket. 
Banks  all  closed.  Train  leaves  in  fifteen  minutes. 
Could  you  accommodate  me  with,  say  fifty  dollars 
in  exchange  for  my  check  on  the  First  National?" 

The  idea  of  a  trick  never  so  much  as  occurred 
to  Zach.  It  took  almost  every  cent  about  him, 
but  he  readily  answered:  "Certainly,  with  the 
greatest  pleasure.  Never  mind  the  check,  Col 
onel,  your  word  is  all  that  is  necessary." 

But  Barncastle  did  mind.  "Forgive  me,  Mr. 
Martin,"  he  said  ;  "  but  there  you're  wrong.  Busi 
ness  is  one  thing,  friendship  another.  I  always  do 
these  things  by  rule.  There  you  are  ! "  he  con 
tinued,  handing  Zach.  the  check.  "  Many  thanks." 

"  I  believe  you  have  the  correct  theory  about 
everything,"  said  Zach. 

"The  result  of  experience,"  said  Barncastle, 
stuffing  Zach.'s  bills  into  his  pocket.  Then  he 
smiled  and  again  extended  his  hand.  "Once 
more,"  said  he,  "  I  almost  feel  as  if  you  were  an 


86  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

old  and  valued  friend.  I  shall  not  say  good-bye  to 
you  hereafter,  but  only  au  revoir"  And  once 
more  he  was  gone. 

The  next  day  Zach.  presented  his  great  friend's 
check  at  the  bank,  and  the  teller  chuckled  and 
handed  it  back.  Zach.  blushed  and  stammered. 
The  teller  chuckled  more  than  ever  and  winked  at 
the  statesman. 

"  What's  the  matter?  "  whispered  Zach. 

"  No  funds,"  whispered  the  teller. 

Zach.  looked  at  the  check  and  then  at  the 
officer. 

"  Ain't  it  good?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Oh  !  "  exclaimed  the  teller.  "  Why  old  Barn- 
castle  never  had  a  cent  in  a  bank  in  his  life." 

Zach.  slipped  the  check  into  his  pocket,  pulled 
his  hat  down  over  his  eyes,  and  marched  quietly 
out  of  the  building. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  87 


CHAPTER   VII. 

BOBBIN    GETS    AN    APPOINTMENT. 

Zach.  did  not  tell  any  one  about  his  little 
experience  with  Colonel  Ebenezer  Barncastle, 
though  to  tell  the  truth  it  deeply  mortified 
and  vexed  him.  He  disliked  to  be  taken  in 
so  easily,  and  more,  if  possible,  to  lose  the  pride 
and  pleasure  which  the  compliments  of  Barncastle 
had  given  him.  The  result  of  his  experience  with 
that  gentleman  was  to  make  him  unduly  sus 
picious,  and  the  way  he  eyed  strangers  who  sought 
his  acquaintance  thereafter,  and  questioned  them 
as  to  their  business  pursuits,  was  very  comical. 

Zach.  did  not  fail  to  improve  his  acquaintance 
with  the  Marmalukes.  He  visited  them  the  sec 
ond  day  after  his  arrival,  and  found  them  even 
more  affable  and  gracious  than  ever.  They  were 
nicely  domiciled  in  the  west  end  of  the  city,  and 


88  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

though  by  no  means  gorgeous  in  their  surround 
ings,  were  elegant  and  extremely  hospitable.  They 
had  a  circle  of  very  fashionable  friends,  and  it  was 
not  many  weeks  before  Zach.  began  to  feel  quite  at 
home  in  their  house.  In  the  meantime  the  ses 
sion  had  opened  and  the  young  man  had  begun 
his  duties.  He  was  surprised  at  the  seeming  dis 
order  which  prevailed  in  the  House,  and  found 
that,  though  he  might  be  a  great  man  in  Pine 
County,  he  had  small  chance  to  make  a  reputation 
here.  Some  one  always  seemed  to  be  before  him, 
and  it  was  months  before  he  could  get  the  floor 
even  for  a  dozen  words.  And  he  was  equally 
astonished  at  the  kind  of  work  which  was 
required  of  him.  He  had  possessed  a  vague 
sort  of  notion  that  the  duty  of  a  member  of 
Congress  was  to  rise  gracefully  in  his  seat  and 
proceed  to  speak  great  words  upon  great  ques 
tions.  He  found  instead  that  this  was  about  the 
last  thing  that  such  an  official  was  called  upon, 
or  even  permitted,  to  do.  And  he  had  no  more 
than  become  fairly  settled  in  his  seat  before  letters 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  89 

from  his  constituents,  and  it  seemed  from  every 
body  else's  constituents,  began  to  pour  in  upon 
him.  These  letters  were  upon  every  imaginable 
subject.  All  creation  appeared  to  have  business 
in  Washington  which  Zach.  was  expected  to  do, 
and  do  instanter.  It  would  be  wearisome  to 
recount  even  a  part  of  the  commissions  intrusted 
to  him,  but  the  young  man  soon  found  that  the 
position  he  had  obtained  was  no  sinecure.  Then 
came  the  demands  for  office.  It  seemed  to  Zach. 
that  every  man  who  had  voted  for  him  wanted  to 
be  appointed  to  a  position  of  trust  and  profit.  He 
was  besieged  also  by  those  from  his  State  who 
were  already  occupying  situations  in  the  govern 
ment  service  at  the  Capitol.  These  all  wanted 
better  places,  and  generally  preferred  appointments 
in  the  States  or  Territories.  It  struck  Zach.  as 
somewhat  singular  that  his  constituents  at  Wash 
ington  all  wanted  to  get  away  from  there,  while 
his  constituents  at  home  all  wanted  to  come  to 
Washington. 

He  got  along  with  it  as  best  he  could,  but  so 


90  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

far  had  only  succeeded  in  getting  Spiker  and  Bob 
bin  appointed,  the  former  collector,  the  latter  to  a 
one  thousand  two  hundred  dollar  clerkship  in  the 
Treasury.  He  sent  out  the  latter  appointment 
three  months  after  his  arrival  in  the  capital,  and  in 
due  time  it  was  received  at  Martin's  Corners. 

Bobbin  was  not  in  the  habit  of  receiving  let 
ters,  and  when  he  held  in  his  hand  a  thick  envelope 
bearing  his  name,  and  just  above  it  the  words 
"House  of  Representatives,  U.  S.  A.,"  it  someway 
made  the  little  man  faint.  He  did  not  open  the 
letter  then.  He  put  it  in  his  pocket  and  started 
home,  determined  to  read  it  first  in  the  presence 
of  his  wife.  As  he  neared  his  house,  however,  he 
suddenly  felt  that  he  ought  to  be  prepared  for  its 
contents  before  trusting  himself  in  the  presence 
of  his  family,  and  so  he  turned  off  up  the  road. 
He  wanted  to  find  a  quiet,  secluded  place,  but 
somev:ay  the  whole  country  seemed  alive.  He 
had  a  notion  of  getting  over  the  fence  into  the 
woods,  but  he  wondered  what  people  would  think 
if  they  saw  him  prowling  in  there  without  any 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  91 

apparent  reason,  and  he  turned  away.  He  got 
into  a  field  on  his  left,  and  went  over  a  little  knoll 
into  a  ravine,  but  up  on  the  other  side  he  saw  a 
man  at  work,  and  he  made  a  circle  and  came  back 
into  the  road.  He  was  inclined  then  to  read  it 
there,  but  he  was  afraid  some  one  would  come 
along  and  see  him  and  inquire  about  it;  so  he 
turned  his  steps  once  more  toward  the  house.  This 
time  he  passed  round  the  dwelling  to  the  stable 
and  threw  the  wild  and  frowsy  looking  cow  there 
an  armful  of  hay.  Then  he  looked  out  in  various 
directions,  drew  the  door  shut,  and  pulled  the 
letter  from  his  pocket.  He  opened  it  and  glanced 
at  the  signature,  as  if  to  make  sure  that  it  was 
really  from  Zach.,  then  he  read  a  sentence,  and 
finally  the  whole  letter,  which  was  short  but 
important.  It  informed  him  that  he  had  been 
appointed  to  a  position  in  the  Treasury  Depart 
ment,  and  directed  him  to  come  on  at  once. 

For  a  moment  Bobbin  felt  like  kneeling  down 
and  thanking  heaven  for  his  good  fortune.  It 
seemed  to  him  like  a  special  interposition  of 


92  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Divine  Providence  in  his  behalf.  Then  came 
other  thoughts.  He  was  to  leave  home  —  some 
thing  he  had  never  done  before.  He  was  to 
leave  his  family,  temporarily  at  least,  and  this 
struck  him  as  a  most  terrible  trial.  All  in  all,  he 
felt  that  he  had  suddenly  become  of  immense 
importance  to  mankind,  and  while  he  gladly 
assumed  the  honors  and  the  burdens  heaped 
upon  him  he  could  not  help  feeling  a  regret, 
after  all,  that  the  past  was  dead,  and  a  new  life 
was  opened  to  him.  Bobbin  secretly  wondered 
whether  he  would  have  a  title  in  his  new  posi 
tion,  and  whether  he  would  be  an  Honorable  as 
well  as  Zach. 

That  night  there  was  excitement  in  the  house 
of  Bobbin.  It  extended  and  widened,  too,  until  it 
embraced  all  the  near  neighbors,  and  one  by  one 
they  dropped  in  to  congratulate  the  little  man, 
and  talk  the  thing  over.  Zach.  had  told  him  to 
show  the  letter  to  Spiker,  and  Bobbin  had  visited 
the  former's  house  and  had  a  long  conversation 
with  that  gentleman. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  93 

"  Now  you  are  all  right,"  said  Spiker.  "  Now 
go  ahead.  You've  got  a  chance  to  make  some 
thing  at  last,  and  if  you  don't,  it  is  your  fault, 
that's  all." 

Mrs.  Bobbin  was  delighted.  She  was  perfectly 
willing  to  spare  her  husband  for  the  promised 
$1,200  a  year  (a  sum  that  seemed  absolutely 
fabulous  to  her),  especially  until  she  could  join 
him  in  the  great  capital,  as  she  expected  to  do. 

The  next  morning  preparations  were  made  for 
his  departure.  The  village  tailor  was  called  upon 
to  fit  out  the  little  man  in  a-  brand-new  and 
"fashionable"  suit  of  clothes,  and  he  informed 
Bobbin  and  his  wife  confidentially  that  he  had 
been  in  Washington  during  the  war,  and  knew 
exactly  the  cut  that  was  en  vogue  in  that  center 
of  civilization.  Bobbin  was  measured,  a  proceed 
ing  entirely  new  to  him,  and  before  the  next 
morning  the  wonderful  suit  was  cut  and  in  pro 
cess  of  being  basted  together.  The  whole  village 
lent  their  advice  to  Bobbin  in  the  emergency. 
He  was  trying  to  fit  his  little  head  into  a  felt  hat, 


94  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

when  one  of  his  friends  declared  that  this  was 
folly  and  little  better  than  suicide.  In  Wash 
ington  no  one  that  pretended  to  be  anybody  at 
all  ever  wore  anything-  but  a  silk  hat  —  a  "plug," 
as  the  gentleman  expressed  it. 

"  Look  at  the  President,  when  he  came  through 
Hiltonville  last  Summer,"  said  he.  "You  didn't 
see  him  with  a  soft  hat  on  his  head." 

Everybody  remarked  that  that  was  so,  and 
although  Bobbin  modestly  responded  that  he  was 
not  exactly  the  President,  "you  know,"  "  nor  any 
where  near  it,"  he  finally  resolved,  by  universal 
advice,  to  order  a  "plug"  from  Hiltonville,  and 
did  so. 

Perhaps  the  astounding  appearance  of  Mr. 
Bobbin  when  he  finally  got  into  that  new  suit, 
and  surmounted  it  with  that  tall  hat,  was  never 
before  presented  to  mortal  man.  Someway  he 
looked  so  raw  and  mismatched,  so  to  speak.  The 
coat  was  too  big,  that  was  tolerably  plain ;  but  it 
was  the  trowsers  that  startled  the  beholder,  and 
seemed  to  stun  Bobbin.  Those  garments  seemed 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  95 

determined  to  crawl  all  over  his  feet,  and  work 
themselves  up  in  the  mud  under  his  shoes.  They 
were  doubled  up  in  wrinkles,  upheaved  into  great 
billows,  collapsed  into  frightful  ravines,  and  when 
the  wind  blew  them  out  straight  against  Bobbin's 
thin  little  legs,  he  resembled  a  small  schooner  cap 
sized,  but  with  the  shrouds  still  clinging  to  the 
masts.  People  remarked  that  they  were  too  big, 
but  Sims  the  tailor  only  closed  his  lips  in  a  sort  of 
pitying  contempt  at  their  ignorance.  "Of  course 
they're  too  big  for  such  a  town  as  this,"  said  he, 
"but  how  are  they  for  a  large  city?  What  do 
you  know  about  Washington  styles  ?  Look  here ! " 
and  Sims  would  point  to  a  fashion-plate  on  his 
smoky  walls,  aged  and  venerable,  in  which  were  a 
pair  of  breeches  that  looked  wonderfully  like  Bob 
bin's  in  some  respects,  and  silenced  all  cavil  by  this 
conclusive  demonstration  of  his  artistic  taste. 

Bobbin  bade  his  wife  and  children  good  -  by 
with  a  sob.  It  seemed  as  though  his  heart  was 
going  to  choke  him,  as  he  kissed  them  all  round 
and  passed  out  of  the  little  door.  Spiker  was 


96  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

going  to  town,  and  Bobbin  was  to  ride  with  him, 
and  he  got  into  the  buggy  with  a  feeling  that  this 
was  the  last  of  earth.  Then  Spiker  cracked  his 
whip,  and  the  little  fellow  was  whirled  away,  trying 
to  smile  good-bys  at  the  faces  that  witnessed  his 
departure. 

An  hour  after,  they  were  descending  the  wind 
ing  road  that  led  into  Hiltonville,  and  Bobbin  was 
actually  smoking  a  cigar,  and,  in  spite  of  his 
trowsers,  looking  like  a  genuine  man  of  the 
world. 

When  Spiker  bade  Bobbin  good  -  by  at  the 
depot,  his  last  words  indicated  a  prior  conversa 
tion  on  some  business  between  them,  for  he 
said: 

"  Now,  remember  what  I've  told  you.  If  every 
thing  goes  right  this  ain't  the  last  thing  you'll  get 
through  me,  and  if  anything  turns  up  let  me  know 
at  once.  You  just  stand  by  me  straight,  and  you 
may  be  sure  your  bread  will  be  always  buttered, 
and  buttered  right."  And  then  he  squeezed  Bob 
bin's  hand  and  Bobbin  squeezed  back  with  all  his 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  97 

might  —  the  bell  rung,  the  locomotive  whistled 
sharply,  and  he  was  off. 

It  was  the  gray  dawn  of  morning  when  Bob 
bin,  tired,  dirty,  and  fearfully  mussed  up,  arrived 
in  Washington.  The  dust  had  settled  in  the 
wrinkles  of  those  wonderful  trowsers  and  clung 

o 

there  tenaciously.  His  new  hat  had  received  many 
a  rub  the  wrong  way,  and  seemed  obstinately 
resolved  to  defy  all  efforts  to  smooth  it  out. 
His  beard  had  grown  bristly  and  rough,  and 
altogether  he  presented  a  melancholy  appear 
ance.  No  one  noticed  him,  however ;  no  one, 
indeed,  had  noticed  him  since  the  time  he  left 
home.  He  was  absolutely  hungry  for  a  talk,  and 
gazed  eagerly  out  the  windows  as  the  cars  entered 
the  depot,  hoping  that  by  some  lucky  accident 
Zach.  would  be  on  hand  to  meet  him.  But  he 
looked  in  vain.  He  knew  no  one,  and  he  got  out 
and  walked  aimlessly  along  in  the  crowd  of  hurry 
ing  passengers  to  the  depot  entrance.  Here  a 
great  crowd  of  hackmen,  expressmen,  and  hotel- 
runners  were  assembled,  yelling  at  the  top  of  their 


98  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

voices,  and  grabbing  every  one  they  thought 
it  safe  to  seize  upon.  Bobbin  was  fortunately 
secured  by  a  very  decent  fellow  who  represented  a 
small  hotel  close  by,  and  the  two,  taking  hold  of 
the  little  man's  trunk,  carried  it  in  a  very  sensible, 
and,  to  Bobbin,  very  proper,  way  to  the  house 
designated.  Washed,  brushed,  and  fed,  our  friend 
began  to  feel  like  himself  again.  The  house  was 
near  the  Capitol,  and,  having  rested,  he  set  out 
about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  to  explore  that 
immense  pile  and  find  Zach.  He  had  inquired  at 
the  hotel  for  the  latter,  and  was  amazed  to  find 
that  the  people  there  did  not  know,  and  had  not 
even  heard  of,  the  great  statesman.  Bobbin  saun 
tered  along  toward  the  west  entrance  to  the  Capi 
tol  Grounds,  and  when  he  reached  the  gate 
stopped  and  looked  timidly  in.  Groups  of  peo 
ple  were  passing  in  and  out,  and  finally  he  ventured 
to  walk  up  the  broad  way  himself.  He  reached 
the  front  of  the  Capitol  and  halted.  He  was  not 
sure  that  he  had  not  committed  trespass  already 
in  entering  the  grounds,  and  he  did  not  like  to 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  99 

offend  further  by  going  into  the  building.  Seeing 
a  gentleman  coming  down  the  steps  alone  he 
accosted  him  and  inquired  if  he  could  go  inside. 
The  man  looked  at  him  a  minute,  smiled,  and  said : 
"Of  course  you  can;"  and  so  Bobbin  went  on. 
Arriving  in  the  rotunda  he  was  lost  again  ;  but 
after  a  while  was  directed  toward  the  hall  of  the 
"  House,"  and  walked  straight  ahead  until  he  was 
stopped  by  a  tall  man,  with  full  whiskers,  who  stood 
before  a  couple  of  green  doors. 

"  That  way,"  said  the  official,  jerking  his  head 
back,  and  indicating  the  way  to  the  gallery,  "unless 
you  want  to  see  somebody." 

"  I  want  to  see  Zach.  Martin,"  said  Mr. 
Bobbin. 

"  Send  in  your  card,"  replied  the  man. 

Bobbin  looked  at  him  silently,  not  comprehend 
ing  exactly  what  he  meant ;  but  seeing  a  man  come 
up,  take  a  blank  card,  write  something  on  it,  and 
tell  the  big-whiskered  man  to  give  it  to  "  Collins," 
Bobbin  divined  the  state  of  things  and  asked  for  a 
card  himself.  The  official  handed  him  one,  and 


ioo  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

taking  it  to  a  window  near  by  Bobbin  wrote  on  it, 
very  plain : 

For  Mr.  Zach.  Martin. 

Zach..  1  want  to  see  you.     I'm  out  here  in  the  hall. 

TIMOTHY  BOBBIN. 

This  he  handed  to  the  official,  and  that  gentle 
man  disappeared  with  it.  Presently  he  returned 
and  handed  the  card  back.  Mr.  Martin  was  not 
in.  Bobbin  felt  disappointed,  but  he  looked 
around,  and,  seeing  the  crowd  ascending  a  stair 
way,  he  joined  them,  and  presently  found  himself 
in  the  gallery  of  the  House,  looking  down  upon 
that  buzzing,  bustling,  unruly  assemblage  known  as 
the  House  of  Representatives. 

For  a  while  he  forgot  everything  else  in  look 
ing  at  the  strange  scene.  Away  off  on  the  other 
side  a  man  was  talking  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  no 
one  appearing  to  pay  the  least  attention  to  him, 
while  every  now  and  then  the  presiding  officer 
would  hammer  away  on  his  desk  with  a  little 
mallet  and  shout  something  that  no  one  seemed 


Zackaridh,  the  Congressman.  101 

to  understand.  Bobbin  was  sure  the  desk  would 
be  broken  into  splinters  by  the  terrific  pounding-, 
and,  innocent  soul  that  he  was,  concluded  that  this 
was  a  sort  of  noon  recess,  and  that  the  boys  were 
eating  their  dinner  and  having  some  fun.  He 
waited  curiously,  therefore,  to  see  the  House 
called  to  order  and  business  begin. 

He  was  sitting  close  to  the  railing  which 
divided  the  ladies'  from  the  gentlemen's  gallery, 
and  all  at  once  his  attention  was  attracted  by 
hearing  a  voice  close  to  him  that  sounded  strangely 
familiar.  He  looked,  and  almost  within  reach  he 
discovered  Zach.  bending  over  a  seat  in  front  of 
him  in  which  were  two  ladies.  The  ladies  were 
richly  dressed,  and  were  gayly  chatting  with  Zach., 
who  appeared  oblivious  to  every  other  sight  or 
sound.  Bobbin's  first  impulse  was  to  call  out,  but 
he  restrained  himself,  and  watched  anxiously  for 
his  friend  to  recognize  him.  But  the  latter  never 

o 

once  glanced  his  way.  It  was  a  full  hour  before 
the  Martin's  Corners  statesman  got  up  and  started 
out.  He  had  ascended  the  gallery  steps  only  part 


IO2  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

way  when  Bobbin  coming  close  to  the  railing, 
called  out : 

"Zach.!  How  d'ye  do?" 

Zach.  turned  and  looked  at  Bobbin  closely 
before  he  recognized  him,  then  walking  up  to  the 
railing,  pleasantly  held  out  his  hand.  Poor  little 
Bobbin  seized  it  in  both  his  own  and  fairly  hugged 
it,  while  almost  bursting  out  crying.  It  seemed 
that  all  home  was  there  in  the  presence  of  Zach., 
and  for  a  moment  he  could  say  nothing,  and  made 
no  reply  to  the  latter's  question  as  to  when  he 
arrived. 

Calming  down  after  a  little,  his  companion  took 
him  out  into  the  hall,  and  accompanied  him 
through  the  Capitol.  It  was  a  comical  sight  to 
see  Bobbin,  with  those  extraordinary  trowsers 
turned  up  at  the  bottom  to  keep  them  from  get 
ting  under  his  heels,  and-  his  silk  hat,  a  size  too 
large,  pulled  down  over  his  ears,  treading  along  at 
Zach.'s  side,  his  face  all  smiles,  and  his  eyes  glis 
tening  with  pleasure  as  they  took  in  the  many 
wonders  of  that  vast  pile.  Vulgar  people  stopped 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  103 

now  and  then  to  stare  at  Bobbin,  but  he  never  sus 
pected  the  cause  of  their  attention.  Once  Zach. 
stopped  to  speak  to  a  gentleman  whom  he  met  in 
the  corridor,  and  after  shaking  hands  introduced 
Bobbin.  The  latter  also  shook  hands  with  the 
gentleman,  and  then  stood  by  while  he  spoke  a  few 
words  to  Zach.  on  political  subjects.  Finally  the 
gentleman  passed  on,  nodding  pleasantly  as  he 
turned  away,  and  saying  "  Good  day,  Mr.  Bobbin, 
glad  to  have  met  you." 

"Does  he  look  as  you  thought  he  did?" 
inquired  Zach.,  as  the  stranger  disappeared. 

"Well,"  said  Bobbin,"!  don't  know  as  I  ever 
thought  much  about  it.  Who  is  he?" 

0 

"Who  is  that?"  exclaimed  Zach.;  "  why,  that 
is  the  great  Marcus  Aurelius  Tompkins,  of  Massa 
chusetts." 

Bobbin  liked  to  have  fallen  flat.  He  turned  to 
look  at  the  back  of  the  great  man  disappearing  in 
the  far  corridor,  and  faintly  ejaculated: 

"  That!  he  Tompkins?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  Zach. 


104  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Good  Lord!"  exclaimed  Bobbin. 

"Didn't  you  understand  the  name?*  inquired 
Zach. 

"No,"  exclaimed  Bobbin,  with  a  long  breath. 
"And  do  you  know  him?" 

"Certainly,"    responded    Zach.,     "and    so     do 

you." 

"Zach.,"     said     Bobbin,    solemnly,     "I     never 

thought   I  should    shake  hands   with  a  man   like 

o 

that." 

Zach.  smiled. 

"And  he  spoke  to  me  and  called  me  by  name 
when  he  went  away,  just  like  anybody,"  said 
Bobbin. 

"Exactly,"  returned  Zach.,  laughing. 

Bobbin  pulled  his  hat  down  a  little  lower,  gave 
his  trowsers  a  hitch  upward,  and  pursued  his  way 
thoughtfully.  As  they  returned  toward  the  House 
side,  they  met  the  two  ladies  to  whom  Bobbin  had 
seen  Zach.  speaking  in  the  gallery.  They  smiled 
very  sweetly,  and  Zach.  colored  as  he  smiled  in 
return.  They  stopped  him  for  a  word  or  two 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  105 

and  Bobbin  waited ;  but  Zach.  did  not  intro 
duce  him. 

Th  night  Bobbin  wrote  a  long  letter  home, 
in  which  he  dwelt  on  his  cordial  reception  by 
Zach.  and  his  meeting  with  the  great  Tompkins. 
"  I  tell  you  what,"  he  wrote,  "  my  heart  began  to 
bob  when  I  found  out  who  it  was,  but,  upon  my 
soul,  you  wouldn't  have  been  surprised  if  you  had 
seen  him  in  front  of  the  store  at  Martin's  Corners; 
so  easy-like  and  natural." 

After  this  Bobbin  went  to  bed,  and  slept  well 
for  the  first  time  in  nearly  a  week. 


io6  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series, 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

ZACH.  GOES  INTO  SOCIETY. 

The  Marmaluke  mansion  was  ablaze  with 
lights,  and  servants  in  swallow-tailed  coats  and 
ornamented  with  button-hole  bouquets  ushered 
in  the  throng-  of  guests.  The  drawing-room  was 
pretty  well  filled,  and  in  the  rear-parlor  a  couple 
were  holding  a  very  animated  conversation.  The 
first  was  Mrs.  Barker,  a  woman  of  forty,  perhaps, 
large  and  fine  looking,  but  with  a  worldly,  what 
one  might  call  a  fleshly,  look  that  was  not  alto 
gether  pleasing  to  the  physiognomist.  She  was 
elegantly  dressed,  and  had  that  careless  ease 
which  denotes  one  accustomed  to  fine  apparel 
and  seemingly  above  it.  She  was  waving  a 
fan,  which  she  now  and  then  closed  to  tap  her 
companion  with,  enforcing  a  remark  in  this  way> 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  107 

and  then  opening  it  again  with  that  peculiar  grace 
which  women  know  how  to  employ  so  well.  The 
person  talking  to  her  was  a  young  man  of  perhaps 
twenty-four,  a  small,  slim,  gentleman,  with  a  little 
tuft  of  blonde  whiskers  on  his  chin,  a  diamond 
stud  in  his  shirt-bosom,  and  a  brilliant  ring  upon 
his  little  finger.  He  had  a  very  lamb-like  face, 
and  his  clothes  seemed  to  have  grown  upon  him 
as  a  lamb's  fleece  covers  that  type  of  animal  inno 
cence.  This  was  Mr.  Henry  Audley,  or  Mr.  G. 
Henry  Audley,  as  he  was  wont  to  subscribe  him 
self,  a  very  wealthy  young  gentleman,  son  of  a 
widow,  devout  and  respectable,  who  divided  her 
time  between  New  York,  Washington,  and  her 
son.  Audley  was  the  intimate  friend  of  all  the 
ladies,  especially  the  middle-aged  ones,  by  whom 
he  was  constantly  made  useful  and  to  whom  he 
confided  all  his  secrets.  He  had  a  weakness  to 
be  considered  a  regular  masher  of  female  hearts 
and  a  very  wicked  young  man  with  the  fair  sex 
generally,  but  there  was  not  a  well-authenticated 
instance  of  his  ever  having  broken  a  heart  in  his 


io8  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

life,  nor  likely  to  be  one.  Just  now  he  was  telling 
Mrs.  Barker  a  little  bit  of  scandal. 

"  It  was  the  strangest  thing,"  said  he.  "  Five 
elopements  and  one  marriage." 

"  Oh,  no !  not  five,"  said  Mrs.  Barker. 

"  Ton  my  honor,"  ejaculated  Audley.  "  Now, 
I'll  tell  you.  First  she  ran  away  with  her  music- 
teacher." 

"That's  one." 

"  She  left  him,"  said  the  young  man,  "  because 
he  wouldn't  play  'Ever  of  thee'  on  the  flute. 
Then  she  eloped  with  a  tailor." 

"That's  two,"  said  Mrs.  Barker. 

"Then  she  ran  off  with  her  father's  coachman." 

"That's  three." 

"  Then  she  left  with  a  California  gambler,  and 
now  she's  married  a  bank-teller.  She  tried  to 
elope  with  that  little  Japanese  Minister,  but  some 
friends  put  him  on  his  guard.  They  say  she  has  a 
splendid  figure." 

"Oh,  I  warrant!"  said  Mrs.  B. 

"Wears  one-and-a-half  shoes." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  109 

"  Nonsense  !  "  said  Mrs.  Barker. 

"  Fact ! "  said  Audley,  energetically.  "  I  know 
her  shoemaker.  He  told  me  so  himself.  I'm  going 
to  get  an  introduction." 

"For  shame,  Audley,"  said  a  voice  behind  them, 
and  a  lady —  Mrs.  Sampson,  a  woman  with  a  pale- 
faced  husband  who  was  rarely  seen  away  from 
home — joined  the  group.  "You  are  a  very 
naughty  man — isn't  he,  Mrs.  Barker?" 

"  I  hope  after  making  her  acquaintance  he  will 
avoid  us,"  replied  Mrs.  Barker. 

"Oh,  no,  confound  it!"  said  the  young  man,  "I 
wouldn't  speak  to  her,  you  know,  if  you  think  I 
had  better  not." 

All  this  was  about  a  rather  fast  and  fascinating 
young  lady  who  was  just  then  the  talk  of  the 
town. 

"  That's  a  good  boy,"  said  Mrs.  Sampson,  and 
she  playfully  patted  his  head,  while  he  smiled 
like  a  child  commended  for  not  stealing  fruit 
cake. 

The   trio   were   here  joined    by    Commodore 


no  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Grimshaw,  a  gruff,  hearty  old  naval  officer,  who 
had  been  placed  on  the  retired  list  because  of  a 
wound  which  disabled  him  from  active  service. 
When  told  of  the-  proposition  of  Audley,  and  of 
the  manner  in  which  it  was  received,  Grimshaw 
grunted  out  a  decided  "  Humph." 

"Why  not  make  her  acquaintance?"  said  he. 
"  What's  the  matter  with  her  ?  You  women  are  so 
easily  horrified,  and  there  ain't  one  in  twenty  of 
you  that  wouldn't  elope  fifty  times  in  fifty  hours 
if  you  had  the  opportunity." 

"Ah,"  said  Mrs.  Marmaluke,  who  had  joined  the 
group,  "  the  Commodore  will  have  his  jokes,  you 
know." 

Here  Grimshaw  turned  around  to  grasp  an  old 
gentleman  by  the  hand,  and  Mrs.  Marmaluke  had 
her  attention  called  to  a  new  arrival. 

"The  Commodore  will  have  his  jokes,"  said 
Mrs.  Barker,  repeating  the  words  of  Mrs.  Marma 
luke.  "Yes,  and  his  sprees,  too,  I  am  informed. 
Did  you  hear  of  his  performance  on  the  avenue 
after  the  banquet  last  Tuesday  at  the  Arlington  ? 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.         '      1 1 1 

It  was  too  funny.  They  say  the  police  actually  had 
to  carry  him  home." 

"Mrs.  Marmaluke  always  apologizes  for  him," 
replied  Mrs.  Sampson.  "  Of  course  I  don't  know 
anything  about  it,  but  they  say  she  and  the  Com 
modore  were  a  little  too  friendly  for  Mr.  Marma- 
luke's  peace  of  mind  a  few  years  ago." 

11  Good  gracious ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Barker. 
"Well,  I'd  like  to  know  what  she  found  in  him. 
He  looks  like  an  inverted  iron-clad." 

"Hush!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Sampson,  "here  comes 
that  woman-killer  of  the  capital,  Mr.  Hartwell." 

The  person  named,  a  black-eyed,  black-whis 
kered,  and  rather  distingue  gentleman  of  thirty  or 
thereabouts,  came  forward  with  Miss  Belle  Mar 
maluke  and  her  mother,  and  joined  the  group. 

"  You  know  Mrs.  Barker  and  Mrs.  Sampson,  of 
course?"  said  Mrs.  Marmaluke,  turning  to  Hart- 
well. 

"  It  ought  to  make  a  man  smile  at  every  misfor 
tune  to  be  able  to  say  that  he  has  that  pleasure," 
returned  the  latter,  bowing  gracefully  to  the  ladies. 


H2  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

11  Now,  that's  really  fine,"  said  Mrs.  Barker, 
"Where  do  you  get  all  these  beautiful  compli 
ments,  Mr.  Hartwell?" 

"Ask  yourself,  madam,"  returned  that  gentle 
man.  "If  I  am  inspired,  the  source  lies  hereabout. 
I  am  as  dumb  as  an  oyster  when  out  of  your  com 
pany." 

"You  all  know  that  Mr.  Hartwell  never  flat 
ters,"  said  Belle. 

"Oh,  never!"  chimed  in  Mrs.  Sampson. 

"I  would,  I  confess,"  said  he;  "but  where's  the 
necessity?" 

"You  didn't  flatter  that  beautiful  creature  you 
had  at  the  opera  Wednesday,"  said  Mrs.  Barker. 

"  With  the  curls  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Sampsen. 

"And  the  last  year's  bonnet,"  said  Mrs.  Barker. 

"  Do  tell  me  who  it  was,"  put  in  Belle. 

"Oh,  a  mere  passing  acquaintance,"  answered 
Hartwell. 

"  A  passing  acquaintance,  and  have  her  at  the 
opera!"  said  Mrs,  Sampson.  "Now,  Mr.  Hart- 
well!" 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  1 1 3 

"Oh,  I  did  not  take  her!"  said  he.  Then,  as 
looks  of  incredulity  met  him,  he  continued:  "Ton 
my  honor,  now.  Saw  her  there  with  a  friend,  and 
took  his  place  by  her  for  half  hour." 

Just  here  there  was  a  little  bustle  at  the 
entrance,  and  Commodore  Grimshaw  appeared, 
with  a  lady  on  one  arm  and  Mr.  Zach.  Martin  on 
the  other.  Mrs.  Marmaluke  and  Belle  hastened 
to  meet  them. 

"There  is  the  great  statesman,  the  Hon.  Zacha- 
riah,"  said  Mrs.  Sampson. 

"  Mercy,  what  a  name,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Barker. 

"  The  name  is  a  Scriptural  one,"  said  Audley, 
who  had  rejoined  the  group. 

"Indeed!"  returned  Mrs.  Barker.  "Who  was 
the  original  or  Scriptural  Zachariah  ? " 

"  I  don't  know  exactly,"  said  Audley,  "  but  he 
had  something  to  do  with  cattle  and  chickens  and 
one  thing  and  another." 

"  And  our  friend  Mr.  Martin  was  named  Zacha 
riah  because  he  was  old  Zachariah's  successor,  I 
suppose,"  said  Mrs.  Barker. 

H 


H4  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  Yes  ;  fact,"  answered  Audley ;  "  I  heard  them 
say  that  Martin  used  to  plow  and  drive  oxen,  and 
do  all  that  sort  o'  thing,  you  know." 

Mrs.  Sampson  here  nudged  Mrs.  Barker,  and 
directed  her  attention  to  the  new  comers. 

"  Do  see  Mrs.  Gammill  and  the  Commodore," 
she  exclaimed.  "  Did  you  ever  see  a  more  deceit 
ful  woman  ?  " 

"  She's  working  for  an  invitation  to  the  naval 
ball,"  answered  Mrs.  Barker. 

"  Wouldn't  she  and  old  Grimshaw  cut  a  hand 
some  figure  on  the  floor?"  laughed  Mrs.  Sampson. 

"She  has  a  pretty  necklace,  there,"  observed 
Hartwell. 

"  And  nearly  broke  poor  Gammill  up  getting 
it,"  returned  Mrs.  Barker;  "so  I  am  informed." 

Zach.,  Mrs.  Marmaluke,  Belle,  Mrs.  Gammill, 
and  the  Commodore  here  approached  and  shook 
hands.  While  Zach.  was  being  introduced  to  one 
or  two  of  the  party  whom  he  had  not  met  before, 
Mrs.  Barker  kissed  Mrs.  Gammill  very  affec 
tionately. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  115 

"  I  never  saw  you  looking  so  well,  my  dear," 
she  exclaimed. 

"And  Mrs.  Gammill  might  return  that  compli 
ment,  I  am  sure,"  said  Zach.,  extending  his  hand 
to  Mrs.  Barker.  "What  an  interesting  party  you 
always  draw  around  you !  What  do  you  say  to 
make  them  so  merry?" 

"  We  were  putting  Mr.  Audley  through  his 
catechism  just  now,"  said  Mrs.  Barker.  "  It's  won 
derful  the  knowledge  he  has  of  Scripture  and 
ancient  history." 

"What  was  the  question?"  inquired  Zach. 

"  Why,  these  were  the  questions  propounded 
by  Mrs.  Sampson  and  myself.  She  said:  '  Audley, 
give  your  attention,  hold  up  your  head,  and  take 
your  hands  out  of  your  pockets.  Who  is  the  first 
person  mentioned  as  having  spoken  in  Scripture?' 

"Audley — '  The  whale.' 

'"To  whom  did  the  whale  speak? 

"Audley — 'To  Moses  in  the  bulrushes.' 

"'What  did  the  whale  say?' 

"Audley — 'Thou  art  the  man.' 


1 1 6  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"'What  did  Moses  reply?' 

"Audley — '  Almost  thou  persuaded  me  to  be  a 
Christian.' 

"'What  did  the  whale  then  do?' 

"Audley  —  'He  rushed  violently  down  a  steep 
hill  into  the  sea,  and  perished  in  the  waters.'" 

A  loud  laugh  greeted  this  rather  old,  rather 
profane,  but  rather  clever  sally,  and  no  one 
appeared  to  enjoy  the  satire  on  Audley's  pro 
verbial  stupidity  more  than  that  young  gentleman 
himself.  "  Bravo,  bravo,"  cried  the  crowd  that  had 
collected  about  Mrs.  Barker,  and  there  was  a  great 
clapping  of  hands;  but  Commodore  Grimshaw  did 
not  appear  to  relish  the  joke.  "Oh!  these  women!" 
exclaimed  that  salty  veteran.  "That  was  done  to 
cover  up  some  of  her  backbiting,  but  I  almost 
feel  like  forgiving  the  woman  for  her  ready 
tongue." 

At  this  juncture  music  was  heard  in  the  grand 
drawing-room,  and  the  party  made  a  movement 
toward  that  point. 

Zach.  and    Mr.  Hartwell    approached  Belle  at 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  117 

the  same  moment,  and  each  offered  an  arm.  Belle 
hesitated,  and  then  placing  her  hand  on  Zach.'s 
arm  said,  smiling  to  Hartwell  : 

"  I  believe  Mr.  Martin  was  first,"  and  gracefully 
sailed  out  of  the  room. 

"First!"  repeated  Hartwell,  gazing  after  them, 
and  smiling  bitterly.  "  Yes.  He  is  an  Honorable. 
Let  him  improve  the  time  while  he  is,  for  his  hon 
ors  may  not  last  forever.  They  shall  not,  if  I  can 
help  it." 

"Come,  Mr.  Hartwell,"  said  Mrs  Barker, appeal 
ing  to  the  young  man,  "  I  am  dying  for  company." 

"With  all  my  heart,"  replied  Hartwell,  offering 
his  arm. 

"  Not  all,"  said  Mrs.  Barker,  looking  up  at  him. 

"Yes,  all,"  said  Hartwell,  smilingly. 

"  Except  that  borne  away  by  the  Hon.  Zacha- 
riah,"  returned  Mrs.  Barker.  Hartwell  laughed, 
showing  his  even  white  teeth  close  together,  and 
then  bit  his  lip  as  he  walked  away. 

Mr.  Audley  and  Mrs.  Sampson  were  the  only 
persons  left  behind.  During  the  above  conversa- 


1 1 8  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

tion  Audley  had  been  industriously  offering  his 
arm  to  half  a  dozen  ladies,  each  of  whom  had  un 
luckily  provided  herself  with  an  escort  just  as  he 
came  to  hand.  Not  at  all  discouraged,  the  young 
man  turned  to  Mrs.  Sampson,  and,  bowing  very 
low,  said:  "Mrs.  Sampson,  may  I?"  and  Mrs. 
Sampson  returned  the  bow  with  a  most  graceful 
inclination,  and  answered:  "You  may." 

The  dancing  and  the  flirting  and  the  gossip 
were  going  on  swimmingly  in  the  drawing-room 
when  a  couple  of  middle-aged  gentlemen  entered 
the  hall  and  stepped  from  there  into  the  library  at 
the  left.  The  younger  of  the  gentlemen,  who  came 
in  as  if  at  home,  was,  in  truth,  the  master  of  the 
house,  Mr.  Marmaluke,  and  his  companion  was  a 
local  judge  of  some  repute,  named  Spalding.  They 
took  off  their  overcoats  and  threw  them  carelessly 
over  the  chairs,  while  Mr.  Marmaluke  looked  out 
through  the  open  doors  at  the  scene  in  the  parlors. 

"There  they  go,"  said  he,  drawing  off  his 
gloves.  "  The  Commodore  and  my  wife,  Audley 
and  Mrs.  Sampson,  and " 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  1 1 9 

"Martin  and  your  daughter,"  put  in  the  Judge. 
"Fine  fellow  that  Martin,  Marmaluke.  I'd  encour 
age  him." 

"Hez.y  a  rising  young  man,"  replied  Marmaluke. 

"Yes,  yes,"  responded  the  Judge.  "Got  a  fine 
legal  brain,  too.  When  the  bill  was  up  last  week 
to  encourage  the  judiciary  by  an  increase  of  salary 
he  saw  through  it  like  a  chief  justice.  '  If  we  want 
fine  legal  ability,'  said  he,  'we  must  pay  better 
prices  for  it.'  And  so  we  must." 

"Not  that  we  haven't  fine  legal  ability  now, 
Judge  ? " 

"  By  no  means.  But  can  we  keep  it  ?  That's 
the  question." 

"You  are  not  going  to  resign,  I  hope?"  said 
Marmaluke,  solemnly. 

"  I  ought  to,"  returned  Judge  Spalding. 

"  But  you  won't,"  said  Marmaluke.  "  You  see 
it's  not  so  bad  after  all.  We  plain  citizens  may 
make  a  little  more  money,  but  we  run  a  good  deal 
more  risk,  and  have  no  honors  showered  upon  us. 
If  we  get  attention  we  have  to  pay  for  it,  while 


I2O  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

you  officials  have  cannons  fired,  and  military  drawn 
up,  and  carnages  furnished,  and  the  hospitalities 
of  the  city  tendered  every  time  you  go  out.  You 
ought  to  be  willing  to  slice  a  little  off  on  the  sal 
ary.  But  here,"  proceeded  Marmaluke,  going  to  a 
side-board  and  bringing  out  a  decanter  and  glasses, 
"  Robertson  County.  The  best ;  arrived  last  night. 
If  anything  can  soothe  the  ruffled  spirit  of  the 
judiciary,  it's  such  whisky  as  this.  Let's  try  it." 
The  Judge  tasted  it,  lifted  his  eyes  in  mute  appre 
ciation,  and  then  swallowed  the  remainder  at  a 
gulp. 

"  Now  for  a  smoke,"  said  Marmaluke,  and  the 
two  gentlemen  went  up  stairs,  where  the  odor  of 
their  cigars  would  not  disturb  the  guests. 

Zach.  and  Belle  had  danced  twice,  and  then,  a 
little  tired  and  heated,  they  stepped  across  the 
hall,  and  entered  the  library.  They  were  convers 
ing  very  rapidly,  and  Belle  seemed  vastly  pleased 
and  interested.  Zach.  had  been  telling  her  of  his 
home,  and  was  much  pleased  at  the  apparent  enjoy 
ment  she  manifested. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  121 

"And  you  lived  there  all  your  life?"  she 
inquired. 

"All  my  life,"  returned  Zach.,  " worked  on  the 
farm  summers  and  went  to  school  a  mile  through 
the  snow  in  winter." 

"Dear  me!"  exclaimed  Belle. 

"  Oh,  it  was  not  so  bad,"  said  Zach. 

"  But  had  you  no  amusements?"   she  inquired. 

"  Nothing  but  spelling-schools,"  returned  Zach., 
"  and  occasional  parties  at  a  neighbor's,  seven  or 
eight  miles  away.  Then  came  the  sleigh  rides. 
Ah,  there  was  real  enjoyment.  You  know  nothing 
about  them  here." 

"  I  have  had  them  in  New  York,"  replied  Belle. 

"  Yes ;  but  those  are  poor  affairs,"  said  Zach. 
'  Some  way  the  snow  looks  tired,  and  there 
is  none  of  that  roughness  and  abandon  which 
lends  it  such  a  charm  in  the  country.  You  want  a 
sleigh  twenty  feet  long,  filled  with  boys  and  girls 
and  buffalo  robes.  Then  four  horses  loaded  down 
with  bells  —  not  flat,  spiritless  little  tinkling  bells, 
but  all  kinds,  from  the  deepest  bass  to  the  sharp- 


122  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

est  treble.  Away  we  go  down  the  road  and  round 
the  turn,  the  old  woods  echoing  the  merry  jingle, 
the  horses  arching  their  necks  and  dashing 
along — 

"Keeping  time,  time,  time, 
In  a  sort  of  runic  rhyme, 

To  the  tintinnabulation  that  so  musically  wells 
From  the  mingling  and  the  jingling  of  the  bells." 

Zach.,  growing  interested  in  his  description, 
and  remembering  the  many  incidents  that  he  had 
enjoyed,  was  almost  carried  away,  and  stopped 
short  as  he  recovered  himself  and  begged  pardon. 

"Pardon!"  said  Belle,  with  her  eyes  glowing. 
"  Why,  it  is  excellent.  I  don't  wonder  you  are 
called  an  orator.  I  am  sure  you  deserve  to  be." 

"You  flatter  me,"  said  Zach. 

"  Not  a  bit,"  returned  Belle.  "  I  am  certain  you 
deserve  it." 

"And  do  you  like  the  appellation?"  said  he, 
placing  his  hand  upon  hers  as  it  rested  upon  his 
arm. 

"Indeed    I    do,"  she   returned.     "If  I    were   a 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  123 

man  it  seems  to  me  my  highest  ambition  would  be 
to  sway  a  crowd,  and  by  the  force  of  my  eloquence 
make  them  obedient." 

"  My  father  always  ridiculed  this  power,"  said 
Zach.  "  He  never  believed  in  it.  He  is  always 
talking  of  quiet  and  contentment  and  domestic 
peace  —  peace  in  a  cottage,  or  rather  in  a  farm 
house,  which  amounts  to  the  same  thing." 

"  But  how  must  domestic  peace  be  sacrificed  in 
a  palace  more  than  a  hovel  ?  "  said  Belle. 

"  The  very  question  I  asked  him,"  responded 
Zach.,  "  but  he  is  very  old-fashioned  and  very  sin 
gular  in  some  of  his  notions,  and  Peggy  always 
sided  with  him." 

"Peggy?"  exclaimed  Miss  Marmaluke,  curi 
ously. 

Zach.  blushed,  and  Belle  noticed  it,  and  this 
made  her  twice  as  curious. 

"Who  is  Peggy?"  she  inquired. 

"  Have  I  never  told  you  ?"  said  Zach. 

"  No,"  replied  Belle  ;  "  is  she  your  sister?  " 

"  No." 


124  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  Oh,  your  sweetheart?  "  said  she.  "  Now,  don't 
deny  it." 

"Not  now,"  said  Zach.,  with  an  effort,  and  look 
ing  mean  as  he  made  the  denial.  "We  used  to  be 
rather  tender  with  each  other  a  long  time  ago." 

Ah,  was  it  then  so  long  since  that  tender  part 
ing,  and  did  Peggy  indeed  seem  so  far  away  to  him? 

"  She  is  an  orphan  —  Peggy  Clover,  by  name," 
he  resumed,  "  who  was  brought  up  in  our  family. 
A  noble  girl,"  continued  Zach.,  resolutely,  and 
determined  to  make  some  sort  of  amends  for  the 
cowardice  which  made  him  deny  her.  "A  noble 
girl,  honest,  sincere,  and  one  who,  if  she  had  only 
had  advantages,  no  man  would  be  ashamed  of; 
but  of  course  she  is  perfectly  ignorant  of  the 
world,  and  for  that  matter  of  accomplishments." 

"And  one  with  your  discernment  and  tastes," 
said  Belle,  artfully,  "must  have  a  companion  as 
well  as  a  help-meet." 

Someway  these  words  seemed  so  true  to  Zach. 
And  again  came  up  that  mental  contrast  between 
the  eloquent  girl  at  his  side  and  plain  Peggy,  with 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  125 

her  simple,  sober  dress,  her  tanned  face  and  hands, 
and  her  hoydenish  manners. 

"  I  was  mad  to  think  of  marrying  her,"  he  said 
to  himself;  "mad  to  think  of  it.  It  is  not  too  late 
to  save  both  Peggy  and  myself  from  the  misery  of 
an  unequal  union." 

Belle  seemed  to  read  his  thoughts,  and  to 
encourage  him  in  putting  that  absurd  first  love 
aside. 

"No,"  said  Zach,  turning  to  her  and  resuming. 
"  My  ideal  is  this.  I  would  have  the  honor  and 
gratitude  of  my  countrymen.  I  would  have  a 
faithful,  a  beautiful,  a  loving,  and  an  intellectual 
wife.  I  would  have  wealth,  of  course,  a  house  in 
town,  a  cottage  in  the  country,  where  quiet  would 
only  be  dearer  for  the  contrast  with  the  bustle 
of  fashionable  life ;  and  then,  Miss  Marmaluke,  it 
strikes  me  my  earthly  happiness  would  be  com 
plete." 

Zach.  unconsciously  drew  Belle  nearer  to  him 
as  he  spoke,  and  she,  nothing  loth,  hung  more  ten 
derly  on  his  arm. 


126  The  D,  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  And  with  such  a  man,"  said  she  quickly,  and 
then  recovering  —  "a  man  who  could  command 
such  miracles,  I  mean  —  what  woman  would  not 
be  happy  ?  " 

"And  you  would?"  said  Zach.  softly,  bending 
down  to  her. 

"Yes,"  replied  Belle,  "with  even  far  less  than 
this." 

"With  what  less?"  said  he. 

"All,"  she  responded.  "All,  I  think,  save  the 
frank  generous  heart  that  could  wish  for  such 
things  for  my  sake." 

"And  who  would  not  wish  for  them  and  win 
them,  too,  for  one  like  you?"  said  Zach.,  passion 
ately.  "At  least  who  would  not  be  armed  and 
girded  for  the  work  with  you  to  cheer  and 
strengthen  him?  What  obstacle  could  prevent 
our  realizing  the  ideal  if  we  went  hand  in  hand 
together?  Miss  Marmaluke!  Belle !"- 

A  rustle  was  heard  at  the  door,  and  they  both 
looked  around.  Hartwell  was  sauntering  by  and 
looking  in.  His  white  teeth  shone  through  his 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  127 

black  beard  as  he  smiled  cynically  and  passed 
on. 

The  sight  seemed  to  recall  some  thought  to 
Belle,  for  she  straightened  up  and  said  hurriedly: 
"Let  us  return.  Our  absence  will  be  remarked. 
I  hear  some  one  coming  now."  She  turned  as 
she  spoke,  and  Zach.,  rather  disappointed,  started 
forward  with  her.  At  the  door  he  paused  and 
said:  "And  when  shall  we  continue  the  conver 
sation?" 

"To-morrow,"  said  Belle,  hastily,  and  they 
passed  into  the  drawing-room. 

Hartwell  was  standing  at  the  library  door  a 
few  minutes  after,  when  Mr.  Marmaluke  and  the 
Judge,  having  finished  their  cigars,  came  down 
stairs. 

"Hello!  Hartwell!"  said  Marmaluke.  "Enjoy 
ing  yourself  alone,  eh?  and  you  such  a  beau.  For 
shame!  What  has  become  of  your  gallantry?" 

"Only  a  step  out  here  for  a  breath  of  fresh 
air,"  responded  Hartwell.  "I  am  just  returning." 

"That's  right,"  responded   Marmaluke.     "Give 


128  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

the  ladies  the  pleasure  of  your  society  while  you 
are  young  and  good-looking.  When  you  are  as 
old  as  the  Judge  and  myself  they  won't  notice 
you." 

"  I  shall  endeavor  to  improve  the  time,  sir,"  said 
Hartwell,  showing  his  white  teeth  again  and  pass 
ing  into  the  parlor. 

"A  nice  young  man  enough,"  said  Marmaluke, 
looking  after  him.  "Would  be  somebody,  prob 
ably,  if  he  would  leave  this  energy-destroying  city 
and  go  out  into  the  world.  By  the  way,  Judge,  a 
young  man  ought  never  to  hold  office.  It  unfits 
him  for  everything  else  and  makes  a  sort  of  help 
less  imbecile  of  him.  Offices,  at  least  all  the  good 
ones,  ought  to  descend  like  incense  on  old  codgers 
like  you  and  me." 

"Now,  Marmaluke,"  said  Judge  Spalding,  "you 
don't  understand  these  matters.  As  I  was  saying 
when  you  broke  me  off,  the  judiciary  is  the  palla 
dium  of  our  liberties.  Without  an  incorruptible 
judiciary  what  is  a  country  worth?  How  can  it 
be  incorruptible  when  its  stomach  is  continually 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  129 

craving  turkey  and  lobster  salad,  which  it  is  too 
poor  to  buy?  What  does  Blackstone  say?  Gov 
ernments  are  — 

"There,  now,  don't,"  interrupted  Marmaluke. 
"Don't  get  on  to  Blackstone.  The  prisoner  pleads 
guilty  to  every  count.  What  is  the  sentence?" 

The  Judge  glanced  wishfully  at  the  magic 
side-board.  "The  court  is  silenced,"  said  he,  "and 
assesses  the  fine  at  two  more  toddies,  and  it  must 
be  paid  without  being  replevied." 

"Good,"  said  Marmaluke,  and  he  proceeded  to 
pay  the  fine. 

At  the  other  end  of  the  hall  at  this  instant  a 
curious  scene  was  being  enacted.  Belle,  accom 
panied  by  Hartwell,  was  standing  there,  while  he, 
in  low,  but  almost  fierce  tones,  was  addressing  her. 

"  I  heard  it  all,"  said  he.  "  The  fool  would  have 
proposed  and  you  would  have  accepted,  for  what  I 
know,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  noise  I  made." 

"And  what  can  I  do?"  she  replied.  "You  know 
I  am  acting  the  part  under  instructions." 

"  You  are  of  age,  I  believe,"  said  he. 

6*  I 


130  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Yes,  and  my  own  mistress;  but  what  then? 
Shall  I  disobey  my  mother?  What  have  you  to 
offer  me?  Show  me  a  home  where  you  can 
take  me." 

"You  know  I  can  not  do  this  now,"  he 
responded;  "but  let  us  marry  and  trust  to  recon 
ciliation." 

"Oh,  I  have  seen  too  many  such  cases,"  she 
replied.  "My  mother  is  ambitious.  She  wants 
position.  She  thinks  she  sees  in  Martin  a  lucky 
genius,  who  will  rise  to  the  highest  places.  If  I 
were  to  marry  you  she  would  supply  my  place 
here  with  some  relative,  and  the  house  of  Marma- 
luke  is  not  rich  enough  to  support  two  such 
luxuries." 

"And  what  do  you  propose  to  do?"  he  said. 

"  I  really  do  not  know,"  she  replied. 

"You  will  not  marry  him?" 

"  No,  I  suppose  not." 

"But  if  he  urges  you?" 

"I  will  accept  him." 

"Accept  him!"     Hartwell's  face  darkened,  and 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  131 

he  clenched  his  hands  nervously.  "  Take  care, 
Belle,"  said  he. 

"Oh,  it  is  easy  enough,"  said  she,  quickly,  "ma 
will  not  object  to  delay.  It  will  give  her  time  to 
see  if  her  predictions  prove  true,  and  to  look  out 
for  more  eligible  parties." 

"And  how  long  can  this  last?" 

"  How  long  do  you  want  it  to  last?'    said  she. 

"I  want  time  to  better  my  own  condition  and 
to  look  after  his,"  replied  he.  "  One,  two,  three 
years,  if  necessary." 

"It  can  be  done,"  said  Belle. 

"  In  that  time,"  continued  Hartwell,  "  I  will  put 
obstacles  in  Mr.  Martin's  way  that  will  dispel  your 
mother's  fancy, -and  you  must  help  me." 

"  I ! "  exclaimed  Belle.     "  What  can  I  do  ?' 

"  Opportunities  will  offer.  You  must  recom 
mend  me  to  him  —  to  his  confidence." 

"  I  don't  see  how  this  can  help  you,"  said 
Belle. 

"  Never  mind ;  do  it,"  he  replied.  "  Put  it 
strong ;  urge  it  as  a  special  personal  favor.  If  he 


132  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

cares  for  you,  he  will  not  refuse  you  anything.  I 
know  them  all." 

"  I  will  do  what  I  can,"  said  Belle,  "  trust  me  for 
that.  Now  let  us  go  in. —  and  for  mercy's  sake 
don't  look  like  a  volcano  if  I  happen  to  speak  to 
the  man  again." 

Hartwell,  whose  countenance  had  grown  placid, 
smiled  once  more  and  proved  his  recovery  by 
immediately  going  up  to  Zach.,  and  entering  into 
a  very  pleasant  conversation,  in  which  Belle  soon 
joined. 

"Where  have  you  been,  you  wicked  men,  all 
the  evening?"  said  Mrs.  Barker,  a  few  moments 
after,  as  Judge  Spalding  and  Mr.  Marmaluke 
entered  the  room. 

"There,  you  dear  creature,'  said  Mr.  Marma 
luke,  familiarly;  "the  Judge  and  I  have  had  a 
serious  case  to  consider." 

"Yes,  madam,"  said  the  Judge,  "an  alleged  vio 
lation  of  the  revenue  laws." 

"No  doubt,"  responded  Mrs.  Barker;  "from  the 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  133 

odor  in  the   library   I  should  say  a  brewery  had 
been  seized  and  the  contents  confiscated." 

"Your  woman's  instinct  is  right,"  replied  Mr. 
Marmaluke;  "it  was  a  brewery." 

"But  the  man  was  innocent,"  said  the  Judge; 
"  I  would  have  sworn  that  the  moment  I  smelt  his 
handiwork." 

"And  on  tasting  it,"  continued  Marmaluke,  "the 
man  was  triumphantly  acquitted." 

Audley,  who  had  stood  by  hearing  this  raillery, 
here  broke  into  an  immoderate  fit  of  laughter.  "I 
see!"  he  exclaimed,  "I  see!  By  Jove!  That's 
good!  That's  rich!" 

"Why,  stop  the  man,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Barker. 
"He'll  suffocate  himself" 

"Some  one  pound  him  on  the  back,"  suggested 
Mrs.  Sampson. 

"Oh,  give  him  time,"  said  Marmaluke.  "He's 
not  used  to  such  wit ;  he'll  recover  soon." 

"  It  reminds  me,  you  know,"  said  Audley,  catch 
ing  his  breath  and  trying  to  speak  distinctly,  "  it 
reminds  me  of  a  story  of  a  judge." 


134  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  Certainly,"  said  Mrs.  Barker,  solemnly.  "It 
reminds  him  of  a  story  of  a  judge.  How  strange!" 

"You  are  sure  it  was  a  judge,  Audley?"  said 
Marmaluke. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  replied  the  young  man,  tittering.    "  He 
got  drunk  and  stole  six  silver  spoons." 

"Oh,  no!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Barker. 

0  Come  now,  young  man,"  said  Judge  Spalding, 
"  that  won't  do." 

"  Upon  my  honor,"  said  Audley,  looking  serious; 
"by  mistake,  you  know." 

"Oh!"  said  Mrs.  Marmaluke;  "Oh!"  exclaimed 
Marmaluke ;  "  Oh  !  "  echoed  the  rest. 

"Yes,"  continued  Audley  ;  "and  he  found  them 
in  his  pocket  next  morning  just  before  a  deuced 
fellow  was  brought  before  him  for  stealing  a  pig. 
'  Guilty  or  not  guilty,'  said  the  Judge,  or  the  lawyer, 
or  some  of  them.  '  Guilty,  but  drunk/  pleaded  the 
thief.  '  Where  did  you  get  your  liquor?'  inquired 
the  Judge.  'At  Miller's,'  responded  the  man.  'Re 
lease  the  prisoner,'  roared  the  Judge.  'Let  him 
go!  That  whisky  of  Miller's  would  make  a  thief 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  135 

of  the  Angel  Gabriel,'  and  so  the  fellow  got  clear." 

At  the  termination  of  his  story,  Audley  burst 
into  an  uncontrollable  fit  of  laughter  again,  the 
others  remaining  very  solemn  and  serious. 

11  Marmaluke,"  said  Judge  Spalding,  "  our  young 
friend  can't  have  been  meddling  with  your  Robin 
son  County  liquid,  can  he?" 

"Impossible!"  replied  Marmaluke. 

"Strange,"  continued  the  former,  "that  keen 
ness  like  that  should  inhabit  such  tender  youth. 
He  deserves  something  of  his  country.  Let's  re 
move  him  to  the  jury  room." 

"  Ladies,  excuse  us  a  moment,"  said  Marmaluke ; 
"we  want  to  reward  genius  and  invigorate  inno 
cence.  Audley,  this  way,"  and  taking  the  young 
man  by  the  arm  the  two  gentlemen  escorted  him 
to  the  library. 

"Our  friend,  the  Judge,  has  a  little  too  much 
this  evening,"  remarked  Mrs.  Sampson,  as  the  gen 
tlemen  disappeared. 

"  Never  mind,"  responded  Mrs.  Barker,  "  he 
can't  drink  more  than  Marmaluke." 


136  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

While  this  scene  was  transpiring  at  one  end  of 
the  room,  Zach.  and  Belle  were  improving  the  time 
at  the  other.  It  was  quite  late,  and  he  was  making 
ready  to  go. 

"I  hope  your  evening  has  been  pleasant,"  said 
Belle. 

"  My  evenings  are  always  pleasant  when  I 
spend  them  here,"  he  replied. 

"Oh,  thank  you,"  said  Belle;  "will  you  come 
to-morrow?" 

"With  pleasure." 

"I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of  you,"  said  Belle, 
remembering  her  promise  to  Hartwell. 

"You  have  only  to  name  it,"  said  Zach. 

"You  are  so  kind,"  returned  Belle,  looking  up 
at  him  gratefully.  "  I  shall  see  you  to-morrow." 

"Yes,  and,  let  me  hope,  alone,"  said  Zach. 

"Alone,"  echoed  Belle,  bowing;  and  then,  press- 
.  ing  her  hand,  Zach.  took  his  leave. 

That  night  he  sat  in  his  room  until  way  into 
the  morning,  thinking  of  his  new  life  and  the 
strange  change  that  had  come  over  him.  When 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  137 

at  last  he  fell  asleep  he  dreamed  that  he  was  at  the 
farm  again.  Peggy  had  her  arms  about  his  neck, 
and  was  saying,  once  more,  beseechingly,  "You 
will  not  forget  me,  Zach.?"  and  he  was  responding, 
while  a  new  sun  rose  in  the  east  and  bewildered 
and  maddened  him,  "When  I  forget  you,  Peggy, 
may  Heaven  forget  me." 


138  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MR.     BARNCASTLE     AGAIN. 

Zach.  had  seen  Mr.  Barncastle  many  times  since 
that  gentleman  so  quietly  relieved  him  of  the  fifty 
dollars  on  the  night  of  his  arrival  in  Washington. 
At  first  he  felt  like  seizing  the  rascally  dissembler 
by  the  throat  and  compelling  him  to  refund,  but 
he  overcame  this  desire  and  permitted  his  polished 
admirer  to  pursue  his  way  in  peace.  Further  than 
that  the  surpassing  assurance  of  the  man  rather 
commanded  his  admiration.  Unlike  most  debtors, 
Barncastle  was  by  no  means  disposed  to  shun  those 
he  owed.  Indeed,  he  took  pains  to  seek  them  out, 
and,  after  apologizing  briefly  for  his  shortcomings, 
enter  into  a  political  discussion  with  the  ease  and 
ardor  of  an  old  and  accomplished  statesman.  So 
fair  were  his  promises,  so  seemingly  sincere  his 
regret  at  his  inability  to  refund  the  sum  borrowed 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  139 

of  Zach.,  that  the  latter  was  at  first  very  much  mol 
lified  over  his  loss,  and  was  inclined  to  believe  that 
the  enemies  of  Barncastle  had  slandered  him;  but 
the  proof  became  so  strong  in  a  short  time  that  he 
was  compelled  to  place  that  gentleman  as  first  in 
the  list  of  all  the  chronic  borrowers  he  had  ever 
known. 

As  before  stated,  it  was  the  custom  of  Barn- 
castle  to  seek  out  his  creditors  wherever  he  could 
find  them,  and  begin  a  well-worn  and  oft-repeated 
apology.  He  seemed  to  delight  in  this  almost  as 
much  as  in  obtaining  a  loan  in  the  first  place;  and 
to  those  who  had  lent  him,  he  became  an  absolute 
terror.  They  would  slide  around  back  ways,  slip 
out  at  side  doors,  turn  up  cross  streets,  and  take 
roundabout  cuts  through  alleys  and  unfrequented 
places  to  avoid  him.  There  was  something  exces 
sively  comic  in  this  reversal  of  customary  prac 
tices,  and  Barncastle  could  truthfully  proclaim 
himself  lord  of  the  avenue.  And  it  must  be  said 
that  he  did  not  hesitate  at  times  to  make  capital 
out  of  this  terrorism. 


140  The  D,  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"There  comes  Senator  Touchstone,"  he  would 
say  to  a  chance  acquaintance,  looking  ahead  of 
him.  "Now  watch  him  and  I  will  show  you  a 
piece  of  ingratitude."  A  moment  after,  the  unfor 
tunate  statesman,  observing  Barncastle  approach 
ing  him  with  that  smile  of  resolute  complacency, 
would  dodge  up  a  street,  or  in  at  a  convenient 
shop-door,  and  Barncastle  would  nudge  his  com 
panion  with  an  air  of  "I  told  you  so."  Before 
they  parted  that  companion  would  hold  the  im 
pression  that  the  honorable  gentleman  who  had 
displayed  such  trepidation  was  Barncastle's  debtor, 
ashamed  or  afraid  to  look  the  latter  in  the  face. 
He  would  likely  learn  to  his  cost  the  real  truth 
before  many  days,  however,  from  practical  ex 
perience,  and  so  no  great  harm  was  done  to 
senatorial  reputation. 

Barncastle's  constant  apologies  and  excuses  to 
Zach.  at  last  grew  excessively  tiresome.  Some  way 
that  gentleman  always  took  pains  to  introduce  the 
subject  just  at  the  time  Zach.  most  desired  to  avoid 
it.  Meeting  the  latter  in  the  crowded  reading- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  141 

room  at  the  hotel,  Barncastle  would  dart  forward 
with  a  glad  smile  of  recognition,  and,  extending 
his  hand,  remark: 

"Why,  Mr.  Martin!  This  is  a  pleasure,  a  great 
pleasure ;  yet  it  is  embarrassing.  I  really  did  not 
expect  to  meet  you  to-night,  and  neglected  to 
bring  that  little  amount  with  me.  Will  you  please 
say  where  you  will  be  at  1:45  to-morrow,  and  let 
me  settle  the  matter?  Ton  my  word,  it  worries 
me ; "  and  Zach.  time  after  time  had  replied  that  it 
was  of  no  consequence  ;  it  could  be  handed  in  at  Mr. 
Barncastle's  convenience,  conscious  at  the  time  that 
various  persons  in  the  room  were  winking  and 
smiling  at  the  scene,  and  glad  to  stop  Barncastle's 
mouth  at  any  price.  The  latter,  however,  turned 
these  interviews  to  profit.  Comparative  strangers 
who  were  thrown  into  Zach.'s  society,  seeing  him 
recognize  Barncastle,  observing  him  conversing 
with  him,  or  going  to  one  side  with  him,  as  he 
frequently  did  to  prevent  the  man  from  publishing 
his  greenness  to  the  whole  room,  were  led  to 
regard  the  former  as  a  man  of  some  importance, 


142  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

an  opinion  which  Mr.  Barncastle  did  not  hesitate 
to  take  advantage  of  at  the  very  first  opportunity. 
He  had  a  way,  too,  of  sauntering  through  the 
hotel,  and  seeing  Zach.  engaged  in  conversation 
passing  quite  near,  lifting  his  hat,  bowing,  and 
making  some  appropriate  remark,  as  much  as  to 
say,  "  We  great  men  must  recognize  each  other." 
There  was  none  of  your  false  humility  or  self- 
abasement  about  Barncastle.  He  never  spoke  to 
Zach.  that  he  did  not  seem  to  say,  "  It  was  a  lucky 
thing  for  you,  young  man,  when  you  made  my 
acquaintance." 

Finally  Zach.  found  himself,  like  the  others  we 
have  mentioned,  dodging  corners  and  slipping  out 
side  doors  to  avoid  Barncastle  ;  and  at  last  this 
persecution  became  unbearable.  One  day  as  he 
was  turning  a  street  corner  he  came  face  to  face 
with  his  evil  genius,  and  there  was  no  way  to 
escape  the  meeting.  Barncastle  began  as  usual. 
"Martin!"  exclaimed  he,  grasping  the  latter  with 
one  hand  while  he  slapped  him  familiarly  on  the 
back  with  the  other,  "  I  owe  you  fifty  dollars." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  143 

"  Well,"  returned  Zach. 

"Well/  repeated  Barncastle;  "no,  sir,  it  is  not 
well ;  it  is  extremely  ill,  but  I  have  just  given  the 
last  cent  I  had  to  the  three  infant  daughters  of  a 
deceased  classmate." 

"Yes,"  replied  Zach.,  "the  same  story." 

"  No,"  said  Barncastle,  "  I  beg  your  pardon. 
The  last  time,  if  I  recollect  right,  it  was  the  family 
of  an  organ-grinder." 

"  It  does  not  matter  who  it  was,"  said  Zach. ; 
"  you  didn't  have  the  money  then,  and  you  haven't 
got  it  now." 

"You've  hit  it  exactly,"  said  Barncastle. 

"Then  what  are  you  stopping  me  for?"  said 
Zach. 

"To  express  my  sorrow,  my  mortification," 
returned  Barncastle,  bowing  very  low. 

"  The  devil  take  your  sorrow  and  mortification," 
said  Zach.  hotly.  "  I  don't  want  to  be  stopped  half 
a  dozen  times  a  day  by  a  debtor,  and  hounded  to 
death,  to  be  informed  that  he  can't  pay  me." 

M  Mr.  Martin,"   said    Barncastle,   reproachfully, 


144  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  this  is  cruel  —  it  is,  I  may  remark,  ungrateful. 
Suppose  you  have  a  friend;  his  name  may  be 
Smith  of  Perkins  —  it  don't  matter  about  that  — 
but  you  dote  on  him,  your  heart  yearns  for  him. 
In  an  evil  hour — •" 

Zach.  would  hear  no  more.  He  brushed  past 
Mr.  Barncastle  and  left  that  gentleman  talking 
wildly  to  the  air,  but  when  he  got  a  quarter  of  a 
block  away  he  could  hear  the  latter  repeating  the 
names  of  "Smith  or  Perkins,  as  the  case  may  be," 
hurling  them  and  the  moral  he  wished  to  incul 
cate  at  Zach.'s  retreating  form  with  great  spirit 
and  persistency.  After  that,  however,  Barncastle 
only  troubled  the  young  statesman  at  long  inter 
vals. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  145 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE    BEGINNING    OF    TROUBLE. 

Bobbin  did  not  see  much  of  Zach.  for  a  few 
days  after  his  arrival,  and  time  hung  pretty  heavily, 
as  he  had  not  yet  begun  work.  He  had  made 
some  acquaintances,  however,  of  a  rather  peculiar 
character,  and  these  now  and.  then  afforded  him  a 
good  deal  of  amusement.  A  circus  and  menagerie 
was  exhibiting  a  few  blocks  away,  and  the  "  dash 
ing  equestriennes,"  the  "  daring  gymnast,"  the 
"  india-rubber  man,"  the  "  old  clown,"  the  "  East 
India  snake  entrancer,"  and  other  wonderful  men 
and  women  were  quartered  at  the  hotel.  Bobbin 
listened  to  the  talk  of  these  persons,  and  heard 
their  astounding  stories  with  great  interest.  He 
could  hardly  believe,  as  he  saw  and  heard  them, 
that  they  were  the  same  persons  he  was  accus 
tomed  to  behold  in  the  ring,  and  it  took  two 


146  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

or  three  visits  to  the  circus  before  he  was  able  to 
convince  himself  of  this  fact. 

The  snake  entrancer  was  a  peculiar  object  of 
wonder  to  Bobbin. 

One  night  this  personage,  after  eyeing  Bobbin 
very  closely  at  intervals,  came  up  to  him  and,  tap 
ping  him  mysteriously  on  the  shoulder,  said,  in  an 
undertone: 

"Coin'  into  the  Treasury,  eh?" 

"  Yes,"  returned  Bobbin. 

The  snake  charmer  shook  his  head  and  looked 
still  more  mysterious. 

"  Been  examined  yet?"  inquired  the  man. 

"  No,"  said  Bobbin.  The  fact  is,  the  latter  never 
knew  until  his  arrival  that  he  was  compelled  to 
undergo  an  examination,  and,  although  not  a  bad 
scholar,  he  felt  considerable  alarm  over  the  fact. 

"  Humbug!"  said  the  snake  charmer. 

Bobbin  did  not  answer. 

"  Know  what  they're  going  to  ask  you?"  queried 
the  man. 

"No,"  said  Bobbin. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  147 

"  Tricks,"  said  he. 

"  How  tricks  ?  "  inquired  Bobbin. 

"  Catches,"  said  the  snake  charmer,  and  then  he 
went  on  to  tell  Bobbin  how  they  fooled  a  friend 
of  his  who  went  before  them.  He  told  the  little 
man  so  much  that  Bobbin  resolved  to  be  on  his 
guard,  and  so  was  not  taken  by  surprise  when  the 
following  questions  were  propounded  to  him  by 
the  Civil  Service  Board,  before  which  he  appeared 
on  the  very  next  day: 

1.  Which  is  right: 

"  The  house  is  being  built,"  or  "the  house  is  building?  " 
"The  ship  is  being  sailed,"  or  "the  ship  is  sailing?" 
"The  horse  is  being  eaten,"  or  "the  horse  is  eating?" 
"The  book  is  being  read,"  or  "  the  book  is  reading?" 
"The  fiddle  is  being  played,"  or  "the  fiddle  is  playing?" 
"The  boy  is  going,"  or  "the  boy  is  being  gone?  " 

2.  How  many  Hessians  did  the  British  bring  over  here 
during  the  Revolution  ? 

3.  If  it  takes   a  cork  one  inch  in  diameter  at  the  top, 
three-quarters  of   an  inch    at   the   bottom,  and  three  inches 
long  to  fill  the  neck  of  a  demijohn,  how  many  corks  of  the 
same    size  would   it   take    to   fill    a   chasm  one  and  63-1000 
miles   broad  at  the  top,  and    sloping   irregularly  to  the   bot 
tom,  which  is  4-10  of  a   mile  in  width,  with  a   hole   in  the 
center  100  feet  deep? 


148  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Bobbin  was  given  fifteen  minutes  to  answer 
these  questions.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
replied  to  the  first  of  the  series  without  any 
regard  to  the  rule  of  their  analogy,  but  according 
to  the  dictates  of  common  sense.  In  regard  to 
the  Hessians  he  stumbled.  This  was  one  of  the 
things  of  which  the  snake  charmer  had  not 
warned  him,  but  he  submitted  a  reply  so  novel 
that  it  took  immensely  with  the  patriotic  board. 
He  said: 

"  I  can  not  answer  definitely  as  to  how  many 
Hessians  the  British  brought  over,  but  they 
brought  over  a  good  many  more  than  they  took 
back." 

In  reply  to  the  mathematical  problem  he  boldly 
took  the  advice  of  the  snake  entrancer,  and 
answered  that  it  could  not  be  solved.  So  Bobbin, 
after  being  chafed  and  frowned  upon,  and  made 
the  subject  of  grave  nods  and  wise  shakes  of  the 
head,  passed  the  examination,  and  was  allowed  to 
enter  upon  his  duties. 

When  the  circus  broke  up,  and  struck  its  tents, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  149 

and  loaded  its  performers,  Bobbin  stood  beside  a 
big  wagon  which  had  the  snake  entrancer  and  his 
wonderful  wife  perched  on  top,  and  bade  them 
good-by  with  real  regret.  And  he  waved  his  hat 
to  them  until  they  were  out  of  sight,  and  he  was 
once  more  alone. 

*  *  #  *  *  * 

And  how  was  Peggy  thriving  all  this  time? 
A  peep  into  the  home  of  the  Martins  will  reveal 
this.  It  was  the  first  of  March,  and  Zach.  had 
been  gone  between  three  or  four  months.  At 
first  his  letters  had  been  frequent,  and  his  descrip 
tions  of  Washington  life  minute  and  interesting. 
He  had  told  them  of  the  Marmalukes,  and  though 
a  twinge  of  jealousy  seized  Peggy  at  some  of 
Zach.'s  enthusiastic  praise  of  Belle,  she  never 
doubted  his  loyalty,  and  dismissed  her  fears  before 
they  had  time  to  assume  a  definite  shape.  He 
had  sent  her  many  books  —  books  of  poems, 
books  of  fashion,  books  of  etiquette,  books  of 
art,  but,  with  the  exception  of  the  latter,  she  only 
studied  them  because  it  was  Zach.'s  wish,  this 


150  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

being  law  to  her.  On  the  day,  or  rather  evening, 
in  question,  Peggy  was  diligently  engaged  in  read 
ing  a  work  on  etiquette,  which  Zach.  had  particu 
larly  recommended  to  her.  She  sat  by  the  lamp 
in  the  "front  room"  at  the  Martins  and  read  and 
re-read  the  passages,  which  someway  refused  to 
find  a  lodgment  in  her  rebellious  head.  Finally 
she  came  to  the  following  passage : 

"  Every  lady  should  cultivate  her  style  of  walk 
ing.  A  graceful  carriage  is  absolutely  requisite  to 
a  refined  deportment.  The  walk  should  not  be 
too  stiff,  neither  too  careless.  An  elastic,  gliding 
movement  is  the  most  genteel,  and  can  be  easily 
attained  by  a  little  practice." 

"An  elastic, gliding  movement," repeated  Peggy. 
"That  seems  easy  enough.  It  is  something  like 
this,  I  suppose  —  a  kind  of  g-1-i-d-i-n-g  movement," 
and  she  skimmed  across  the  floor  with  the  book 
in  her  hand. 

She  was  practicing  this  new  movement,  greatly 
to  her  satisfaction,  when  Mr.  Martin  entered. 

"  Why,  what  on  earth   is  the  matter  with  you 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  151 

Peggy?"  said  he,  looking  at  her  in  amazement 
"What  are  you  capering  round  in  that  way  for?" 

Peggy  ran  up  to  him,  blushing  and  laughing, 
and  threw  her  arms  round  his  neck. 

"  Oh,  ho !  you  watched  me,  did  you  ? "  she 
exclaimed.  "  Well,  now,  I'll  tell  you.  I'm  '  quali 
fying  I '  —  that's  what  Zach.  calls  it  —  qualifying 
myself  for  high  life." 

"  Humph  !  "  grunted  the  old  gentleman. 

"See  what  the  book  says,"  continued  she.  "'An 
elastic,  gliding  movement  is  the  most  genteel,  and 
can  be  easily  attained  with  a  little  practice.'  There, 
didn't  I  tell  you?" 

Mr.  Martin  stroked  his  nose  and  looked  at  her 
thoughtfully. 

"  I  believe  that  boy  has  run  mad,  Peggy,"  he 
said.  "  Now  whoever  saw  a  gracefuller  curt'sy  than 
you  can  drop  when  you  try  ?  As  for  style,  there 
never  was  a  better  one,  and  now  that  blockhead 
wants  you  to  change  it,  and  go  bending  yourself 
double  and  getting  your  back  up  and  your  spine 
twisted  by  his  new-fangled  way  of  doing  things. 


152  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

You've  got  to  go  and  make  yourself  crooked 
where  nature  made  you  straight,  and  straight 
where  she  made  you  crooked.  But  I  wouldn't  do 
it,  not  if  twenty  Zachs.  wanted  me  to.  I'd  keep 
my  little  body  straight  as  an  arrow  and  supple  as 
a  sapling,  in  spite  of  all  of  'em." 

"  Now,  you  old  sweet  thing,"  said  Peggy,  patting 
his  cheeks,  "you  are  old  fashioned,  and  I  like  you 
for  it;  but  then  Zach.  knows  what  they'll  want 
down  there  among  the  Chinese,  and  Rooshans,  and 
all  the  big  folks,  better  than  you  do.  So  here  I 
go  for  the  style."  And  Peggy  spread  her  skirts 
out  and  walked  across  the  room  in  high  glee. 

"  Now  look  at  that,"  said  the  old  gentleman. 
"  Why,  I  suppose  they'll  make  you  put  yourself  in 
some  kind  of  a  horrid  shape  when  you  dance,  too, 
won't  they  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  replied  Peggy,  "  they're  very  particu 
lar  about  that.  Zach.  says  I  must  be  just  as  stiff 
as  a  mackerel.  He  says  I  must  about  half  walk 
and  half  dance,  and  be  very  careful  not  to  hop  up." 

"Not  to  hop  up!"  exclaimed  the  old  gentle- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  153 

man.  Why,  what  is  dancing  at  all,  but  hopping 
up  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  Peggy,  slightly  puzzled,  "  this  is 
slow  dancing  —  s-l-o-w,  you  know,"  and  she  dwelt 
on  the  word  as  if  to  make  its  meaning  perfectly 
plain. 

"  Yes,  I  should  say  it  was  slow,"  responded  he. 
"  Now,  do  you  know,  Peggy,  if  you  was  to  go 
before  the  President  and  dance  natural,  you  would 
charm  his  heart  right  out  of  him.  Dance  the 
Opereel,  for  instance.  Ah,  there  was  a  dance  for 
you!" 

"The  way  we  danced  it  at  the  big  party  when 
Zach.  first  went  away  to  school?"  said  Peggy, 
brightening  with  the  recollection.  "  Wasn't  it 
splendid  ?  " 

"  It's  been  a  good  while,"  said  the  old  gentle 
man,  "  since  I  danced,  but  it  seems  to  me  those  old 
tunes  are  the  best  of  all.  They  make  a  fellow 
dance  whether  he  knows  how  or  not.  I  remember 
how  the  fiddler  could  make  me  jump  when  he 
began  that  time —  I  couldn't  keep  still  a  minute  — 


154  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Rum  de  doodle-doodle  dum  turn,  doodle  doodle," 
and  Mr.  Martin  began  humming  an  old  air  with 
great  spirit,  while  Peggy,  suiting  the  action  to  the 
word,  gayly  balanced  down  the  center  of  the  room. 
As  she  came  back  the  temptation  was  too  strong, 
and  the  old  gentleman  joined  in,  the  two  cutting 
about  as  lively  a  figure  as  could  well  be  imagined. 
While  they  were  in  the  very  midst  of  it,  the  door 
opened  and  Mrs.  Martin  put  her  astounded  head 
into  the  room. 

For  a  moment  that  lady  seemed  speechless  with 
amazement.  Then  she  pressed  her  lips  together, 
walked  in,  and  shutting  the  door,  put  her  back 
against  it. 

"  Well,"  she  exclaimed,  witn  a  great  breath, 
looking  severely  at  her  husband,  "  if  you  ain't 
a-getting  lively  in  your  old  age  then  I  don't  know. 
And  you  a  deacon  of  the  church.  You  oughter 
be  ashamed  o'  yourself.  And  to  be  leadin'  Peggy 
off  into  them  old  dances,  too.  I  don't  know  what 
Zachariah  would  say.  There's  the  books  that  he 
sent  her  and  she  don't  know  a  word  of  'em,  but  she 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  155 

must  go  hazing  around  the  room  and  tittering  and 
you  a-leadin'  off  in  it.  I  declare,  Joe,  I  would  be 
ashamed." 

"We  just  commenced  as  you  came  in,"  said 
Peggy,  appealingly,  and  it  was  those  very  books 
of  Zach.'s  that  brought  us  into  it,  wasn't  it?"  and 
she  looked  toward  her  late  partner.  "  Now,  I'll 
show  you,"  continued  Peggy,  noting  the  look  of 
incredulity  on  Mrs.  Martin's  countenance.  "There! 
it  was  this,"  and  Peggy  got  the  book  and  read,  "'A 
graceful  carriage  is  absolutely  requisite  to  a  refined 
deportment.' " 

"Carriage  means  your  gait,"  interrupted  Mr. 
Martin  from  the  corner,  where  he  sat  holding  his 
chin  in  his  hands,  and  perspiring  very  freely. 

The  old  lady  only  scowled  at  him  contemptu 
ously,  and  Peggy  went  on. 

"'The  walk  should  neither  be  too  stiff  nor  too 
careless.  An  elastic,  gliding  movement  is  the 
most  genteel,  and  can  easily  be  attained  by  a  little 
practice.'" 

"There!"  said  Peggy,  "I   was  showing  Father 


156  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Martin  how  well  I  could  do  it,  and  then  we  got  to 
talking  about  it,  and  then  —  then  — 

"Then  you  went  to  galloping  round,  you  and 
the  old  man,  like  a  couple  of  spring  calves,"  inter 
rupted  Mrs.  Martin.  "Let  me  see  that  book." 
Peggy  handed  her  the  volume,  and  the  old  lady 
read  the  passage  marked  out  for  her.  "  Let's  see 
you  do  it,"  said  she. 

"Walk?"  inquired  Peggy. 

"  Yes,  walk,"  replied  Mrs.  M. 

Peggy  went  across  the  floor  in  a  very  graceful 
way,  until  she  got  close  to  the  old  gentleman,  when 
she  caught  his  eye,  and  the  two  broke  out  in  a  loud 
laugh,  ending  in  a  bound  and  a  stumble  by  Peggy 
which  landed  her  on  the  floor  at  the  old  gentle 
man's  side. 

"  Oh,  do  giggle,"  said  Mrs.  Martin,  testily.  "  You 
care  a  good  deal  for  what  Zach.  wants,  don't  you?" 

"Well,  don't  I  do  it  right?"  said  Peggy,  wiping 
her  eyes. 

"No,"  responded  Mrs.'  Martin;  "you  don't  do  it 
at  all.  An  e-e-e"  ("elastic,"  suggested  Peggy 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  157 

"elastic,  gliding  moment,"  said  Mrs.  Martin,  "is 
something  like  this" — and  the  old  lady  threw  her 
head  on  one  side,  elevated  her  chin,  and  walked 
across  the  room,  while  old  Mr.  Martin  indulged  in 
a  loud  guffaw. 

"Well,  laugh!"  she  exclaimed,  "laugh  as  much 
as  you  please,  but  I  know  that's  about  the  way." 

"It's  a  mighty  poor  way,  then,"  said  he.  "  Now, 
Betty,  don't  you  think  this  style  o'  dancing  and 
walking  is  thunderin'  nonsense?" 

"  No,  I  don't,"  said  Mrs.  Martin.  "  If  Zachariah 
says  it's  right,  it's  right,  that's  all." 

"Of  course,"  he  replied,  "that's the  way  they  do 
down  there,  but  our  old  way  was  much  better. 
Don't  I  remember  how  I  used  to  see  you  tripping 
along,  as  straight  as  a  pine  and  as  nimble  as  a 
deer,  jumping  fences  and  running  races  like  an 
Indian  princess?  That  was  a  sight  for  you;  it 
was  worth  a  big  sum  to  look  at  you." 

Mr.  Martin  spoke  enthusiastically,  and  his  wife 
grew  mollified. 

"And  the   dances  we  used  to  have,"  he  went 


158  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

on  ;  "  and  the  figure  you  used  to  cut,  with  half  the 
county  crazy  over  you." 

"Oh,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Martin.  "You  mean 
those  balls  down  at  Smith's  Corners?" 

"  Every-where,  every-where,"  continued  the  old 
gentleman,  waxing  eloquent;  "every-where  you 
went,  no  matter  where,  let  Joe  Martin  and 
Betsy  Kelly  lead  off/  said  the  fiddler;  and  away 
we  went  in  the  Virginia  reel,  or  the  monnymusk, 
the  envy  of  the  whole  room." 

"  Or  the  French  four,"  suggested  Mrs.  Martin, 
thoughtfully. 

"Yes,  that  was  another  good  one,"  said  Mr. 
Martin.  "  Let  me  see,  how  did  that  go  ?  '  For 
ward  two?"1 

'No,"  said  Mrs.  Martin,  now  thoroughly  inter 
ested.  "  Let  me  see ;  this  was  the  tune."  And 
the  old  lady  hummed  the  air  of  that  ancient  figure 
in  a  sprightly  manner. 

"That's  it,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Martin;  "then  came 
the  forward  two !"  He  looked  inquiring  and 
doubtful,  and  his  wife  stopped  humming  the  tune 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  159 

to  explain.  "You  begin  here,"  said  she,  extending 
her  hand,  which  he  clasped,  "then  when  the  tune 
struck  up  we  went  off  in  this  style." 

Mrs.  Martin  again  began  the  tune,  and,  inspired 
by  old  recollections,  forgot  her  late  explosion,  and 
for  five  minutes  there  was  balancing,  swinging, 
capering  down  the  center,  approaches,  retreats,  and 
some  grand  displays  of  genuine  old-fashioned  danc 
ing,  such  as  the  home  of  the  Martins  had  not  wit 
nessed  for  years.  At  last,  out  of  breath,  and 
ashamed  of  having  yielded  in  this  manner,  Mrs. 
Martin  dashed  out  of  the  room  and  off  to  her  own 
chamber.  When  Mr.  Martin  sought  her,  a  half 
hour  later,  she  was  in  bed,  and  answered  an  in 
quiry  of  his  by  saying,  "Don't  talk  to  me;  you've 
got  me  into  a  pretty  scrape  to-night." 

And  Mr.  Martin,  like  all  good  husbands,  obeyed 
the  injunction,  and  did  not  talk. 

And  so  the  days  ran  along  until  the  last  of  the 
month.  Peggy  was  making  headway  with  her 
studies,  and  looking  anxiously  forward  to  the  time 
when  Zach.  would  again  be  with  them. 


160  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

It  was  a  pleasant  evening  on  the  day  named 
when  an  incident  occurred  to  Peggy  that  changes 
the  entire  course  of  this  story,  as  it  changed  the 
entire  course  of  her  life. 

The  day's  work  was  done,  and  the  evening  sun 
was  setting  unusually  bright  and  warm.  The 
waters  of  the  little  lake  reflected  the  expiring 
rays,  which  seemed  to  linger  there,  loath  to  bid  the 
world  good-night.  Peggy  sat  at  her  window  in 
tently  engaged  in  fastening  the  pretty  scene  before 
her  on  a  bit  of  canvas,  when  John,  a  laborer  about 
the  farm,  came  in  and  handed  her  a  letter.  It  was 
from  Zach.,  and  she  clasped  it  close,  while  she  laid 
aside  her  brush  and  canvas.  Then  seating  herself 
by  the  window,  she  opened  and  read  it.  As  she 
did  so  a  look  of  dead  surprise  came  over  her. 
This  gave  place  to  pain,  and  then  to  a  grief  which 
was  pitiable  in  its  extremity.  When  she  finally 
finished  the  letter  she  crumpled  it  in  her  hands, 
bowed  her  head  upon  it,  and  flooded  it  with  an 
agony  of  tears. 

But  she   never  stirred.     An   hour  passed,  and 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  161 

the  twilight  deepened  into  darkness,  yet  it  found 
her  there.  An  hour  later  still,  and  they  discov 
ered  the  poor  girl  and  asked  her  the  cause  of  her 
grief.  She  handed  the  letter  to  them  without  a 

o 

word,  and  only  bowed  her  head  again. 


1 62  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

IN    WHICH    PEGGY    BECOMES    A    WANDERER. 

"I  tell  you,  don't  talk  to  me,"  said  old  Mr.  Mar 
tin  to  his  wife  the  morning  after  the  receipt  of  the 
unwelcome  letter  alluded  to.  "  I  say  it's  a  scurvy, 
disgraceful  trick  in  any  man,  let  him  be  my  son  or 
anybody  else." 

"  Now,  Joe,"  responded  Mrs.  Martin,  "you  know 
very  well  that  Peggy  was  not  a  match  for  Zacha- 
riah.  Of  course  she'll  do  for  our  boys  here,  and 
make  a  good  wife  for  any  of  them,  but  it's  natural 
that  Zach.  should  look  higher." 

"  Look  higher ! ''  exclaimed  Mr.  Martin,  with  a 
tone  of  utter  contempt  and  impatience.  "Why 
didn't  he  think  of  that  before  ?  Must  he  break 
the  poor  child's  heart  before  he  thinks  of  looking 
higher?  The  scoundrel!" 

"Why,  highty-tighty,"  responded  Mrs.  Martin; 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  163 

"you  act  as  if  that  girl  was  more  to  you  than  your 
own  son." 

"  My  son  is  so  much  to  me,"  replied  the  old 
man,  "  that  I  hate  to  see  him  beaten  in  good 
sense  and  manliness  by  a  woman,  and  Peggy 
does  it." 

"  Why,  what  more  could  the  boy  do,  I  wonder?" 
said  she.  "  Don't  he  tell  her  he  will  always  be  her 
friend,  and  try  to  show  her  that  his  position  in  life 
ain't  suited  to  hers?" 

"You,  a  woman,"  replied  the  old  gentleman, 
"and  talk  like  that?  I've  never  been  a  woman, 
but  I  know  enough  about  the  tribe  to  know  that 
the  biggest  insult  any  man  can  offer  one  is  to 
coolly  tell  her  that,  although  from  his  exalted 
position  she  can  not  be  his  wife,  yet  he  will  kindly 
condescend  to  be  her  friend.  Any  girl  with  the 
spirit  of  a  mouse  would  die  before  she  would 
accept  such  an  offer." 

"  Oh,  you  know  a  great  deal  about  women!" 
responded  Mrs.  Martin. 

"  I  know  a  plaguey  sight  more  than  I  used  to," 


164  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

said  the  old  man,  warmly.  "You  needn't  throw  my 
ignorance  in  my  face  after  profiting  by  it." 

"Oh  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Martin,  tossing  her  head. 

"Well, 'Oh,'"  repeated  the  old  gentleman.  "I 
tell  you  Zach.  Martin  has  done  a  disgraceful  act, 
and  I  shall  take  pains  to  speak  my  mind  to  him  as 
well  as  to  you.  A  man  that  will  have  his  head 
turned  and  his  soul  puffed  up  by  a  little  good  luck 
ain't  fit  to  be  the  husband  of  an  honest  girl,  that's 
the  truth.  If  you  don't  like  that  just  put  it  in 
your  pipe  and  smoke  it,"  and  with  this  Mr.  Martin 
walked  out  of  the  room  and  slammed  the  door 
behind  him. 

It  will  have  been  seen  from  the  foregoing  that 
Zach.  had  at  last  broken  his  engagement  with 
Peggy,  and  the  letter  was  the  bearer  of  these  tid 
ings.  It  required  a  great  effort  on  his  part  to 
write  it,  but  he  had  accomplished  the  task  at  last, 
and  was  glad  when  it  was  over.  He  expected  a 
storm  over  it.  He  supposed  that  Peggy  would 
pout  and  his  father  scold,  but  he  believed  that  ere 
his  return  home  the  affair  would  blow  over  and 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  165 

he  could  resume  amicable  relations  with  Peggy 
without  difficulty.  Zach.  was  about  as  verdant  in 
matters  of  the  heart  as  in  knowledge  of  men,  and 
he  was  as  much  mistaken  in  his  transaction  with 
Peggy  as  he  was  in  that  with  Barncastle. 

When  Mr.  Martin  slammed  the  door  behind 
him  and  went  out,  after  his  tilt  with  his  wife,  he 
passed  around  to  the  house  toward  the  road, 
intending  to  visit  a  neighbor.  As  he  reached  the 
front  gate,  however,  he  saw  Peggy  seated  on  the 
steps,  and  he  stopped.  Peggy  was  not  crying. 
She  had  passed  beyond  that  now.  She  sat  with 
her  elbows  on  her  knees  and  her  hands  to  her 
face,  looking  away  off  across  the  fields  to  the  blue 
woods  beyond,  very  thoughtful,  very  sad,  She 
smiled  faintly  when  she  saw  Mr.  Martin,  and  he 
halted  with  the  gate  half  open,  closed  it,  and  came 
and  sat  down  by  her. 

"  I  wouldn't  mind  it,  Peggy,"  said  he.  "  He's 
not  worth  it." 

She  choked  a  little  at  this.  "  I  don't  care,"  said 
she,  "he  wanted  me  to  study,  he  wanted  me  to 


1 66  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

be  quiet  and  dignified  and  ladylike,  and  I  did  try  to 
be.  I  didn't  do  anything  I  wanted  to.  And  now!" 
She  stopped,  afraid  to  trust  herself  further. 

"  I  wouldn't  mind  it  at  all,"  repeated  the  old 
gentleman,  soothingly,  "  it  will  be  all  right  yet." 

"  It's  the  great  ladies  who  have  done  it,"  con 
tinued  Peggy.  "  Oh,  that's  what  it  is.  He's  fallen 
in  love  with  one  of  them,  and  will  marry  her,  of 
course.  But  to  think,  Father  Martin,  that  he 
could  write  that  to  me."  Here  Peggy  took 
Zach.'s  letter  from  her  pocket  and  read  the  fol 
lowing  passage : 

"  You  know,  Peggy,  we'll  be  just  as  good  friends 
as  ever,  and  if  you  should  marry  one  of  these  days 
I  promise  you  a  gift  that  shall  make  your  eyes 
sparkle." 

"  To  think  of  that,"  said  she ;  "  he  thinks  I  have 
no  heart;  that  I  have  no  feeling;  that  I  can  marry 
any  one." 

"  There  my  child,"  said  Mr.  Martin,  stroking 
her  head  with  his  broad  palm,  "you  will  be  righted 
one  of  these  days,  never  fear." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  167 

"  It  hurts  my  pride  so,  you  know,"  said  Peggy, 
looking  up  to  him  mournfully. 

"  I  know  it ;  I  know  all  about,"  replied  he.  "  It 
hardly  hurts  you  worse,  Peggy,  than  it  does  me." 

He  said  this  so  tenderly,  that  she  felt  like 
throwing  herself  on  her  knees  before  him  in  grati 
tude  for  all  his  kindness. 

"  You  have  always  been  so  good  to  me,"  she 
said,  taking  his  hand  in  both  hers,  and  holding  it 
tight :  "  so  good." 

"  Do  you  know,"  she  continued,  after  awhile, 
"there  was  a  paper  in  the  letter  which  I  did  not 
understand;  I  think  he  put  it  in  by  mistake.  Look 
at  it,"  and  Peggy  took  a  small  folded  paper  from 
the  envelope  and  handed  it  to  Mr.  Martin.  The 
latter  took  it  and  read  it  aloud.  It  was  a  receipt, 
and  ran  thus : 

THE  NANTVCKET  INSURANCE 
$7,000.  OFFICE  OF 

Washington,  L 

Received  of  Zachariah  Martin  seven  thousand  dollars, 
being  for  seventy  shares  of  stock  in  the  Nantucket  Insurance 
Company,  the  same  to  be  delivered  to  said  Martin  at  this 
office  within  thirty  days  from  the  date  hereof. 

[Signed.]  RICHARD  HARTWELL,  Secretary. 


RANGE  COMPANY,  ) 
OF  THE  GENERAL  AGENT,  f 
t,  D.  C.,  Feb.  12,  1 8— .  ) 


1 68  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  Seven  thousand  dollars,"  mused  Mr.  Martin. 
I  think,  Peggy,  this  has  something  to  do  with 
money  I  sent  Zach.,  but  I  told  him  to  invest  that 
in  government  bonds.  He's  so  crazy  he  has  put 
this  in  your  letter  without  noticing  it  Never 
mind,  it's  not  important.  Keep  it,  Peggy,  and  if 
he  ever  wants  it  let  him  come  to  you  for  it." 

She  put  it  back  in  the  letter  and  looked 
thoughtfully  on  the  ground.  "  He'll  never  come 
to  me  for  that  or  anything  else,"  she  said.  "  He's 
given  me  up  for  good.  It  will  be  the  last  thing 
between  us."  She  did  not  say  this  bitterly,  but 
with  a  simple  sadness,  touching  and  full  of  pathos. 

"And  a  pretty  trick  it  was,"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Martin,  growing  excited  once  more.  "  But  I  knew 
what  it  would  all  come  to.  Now,  Peggy,  what  did 
you  do  for  that  boy  ?  Didn't  you  read  all  them 
books  he  sent  you  ?" 

"  Every  one,"  replied  Peggy. 

"'The  love  of  woman  surpasseth  knowledge,'" 
said  he  ;  "  and  what  else,  now  ?  " 

"  I  learned  music,  and  studied  French,  and  then 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  169 

you  know  I  tried  to  paint!" — She  stopped  abruptly, 
and,  laying  her  hand  on  his  arm,  said,  "  I've  a 
notion  to  show  you  something,  though  I  thought  I 
would  keep  it  secret  till  Zach.  came  home.  I  will ;" 
and  Peggy  got  up  and  went  into  the  house.  Pres 
ently  she  returned  with  a  piece  of  canvas,  on  which 
was  a  portrait.  Mr.  Martin  started  when  he  looked 
at  it.  'Twas  a  picture  of  Zach.,  capitally  executed, 
as  natural  as  life. 

"Heavens  and  earth!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Martin, 
"  I f  it  ain't  Zach. !  Did  you  make  this, you,  Peggy  ? " 

"Yes,"  said  she,  her  eyes  filling  with  tears ;  "  but 
I  never  could  have  done  it  if  I  hadn't  loved  him 
so  much." 

"And  this  is  the  girl,"  said  the  old  gentleman, 
holding  the  picture  to  one  side,  and  distributing 
his  attention  between  Peggy  and  the  portrait, 
"  whom  that  numskull  forsakes  because  she  is 
ignorant.  He  was  ashamed  of  you,  wasn't  he, 
Peggy ;  ashamed  of  you  ?  " 

"Yes,"  murmured  Peggy. 

"Why,   confound  my  eyes,"  said  he;  "when   I 


170  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

was  in  Philadelphia  I  saw  likenesses  not  as  good 
as  that  which  cost  a  good  five  hundred  dollars. 
The  boy  is  a  fool.  He  takes  after  his  mother. 
You're  enough  sight  too  good  for  him.  He  don't 
deserve  you,  Peggy  ;  and  mind,  now,  if  I  can  ever 
be  of  any  service  to  you,  ask  me  any  day  for 
money,  or  friendship,  or  anything  I  have,  and  it  is 
yours  and  welcome.  Dry  your  eyes  and  let  me 
see  a  smile  on  your  face  once  more.  It  will  do  my 
old  heart  good,  indeed  it  will." 

And  Peggy  put  her  arm  'round  the  neck  of 
that  truest  of  all  friends,  and  tried  her  best  to 
smile  for  his  sake. 

Peggy  thought  much  after  this  of  her  future, 
'and  what  she  would  do.  One  thing  kept  running 
forever  in  her  head.  It  was  the  statement  of  Mr. 
Martin  that  portraits,  no  better  than  that  of  Zach., 
were  sold  in  Philadelphia.  But,  alas,  Philadelphia 
was  the  unknown  country  to  her.  She  asked  her 
self  how  many  thousand  miles  it  was  to  that  city, 
and  could  not  realize  that  modern  improvements 
in  travel  had  almost  placed  it  at  the  door. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  171 

"What  if  I  am  somebody,  after  all?"  she  said 
to  herself  one  night,  sitting  in  her  old  place  by  the 
window.  "  What  if  it  only  needs  thought  and 
work  to  make  me  the  equal  of  those  he  admires. 
What  was  it  I  read  last  night?"  Peggy  reached 
and  took  up  a  book  and  turned  over  its  pages 
hastily.  She  stopped  when  she  came  to  this  pass 
age: 

''HaL  our  great  men  and  women  have  been 
developed  through  some  startling  circumstance 
that  roused  their  best  energies,  but  which  was 
looked  upon  at  the  time  as  a  calamity." 

Peggy  re-read  this  passage,  and  then  closed  the 
book  and  leaned  back  thoughtfully.  "  What  if  it 
should  be  so  with  me  ?  "  she  said  to  herself.  "  But 
I  forget.  What  could  there  be  in  poor  ignorant 
Peggy.  And  yet  the  portrait !  Five  hundred  dol 
lars,  he  said,  for  a  poorer  picture  than  that  —  in 
Philadelphia.  But  I  ain't  in  Philadelphia,  and 
have  no  chance  of  being!" 

She  sat  long  and  silent,  turning  the  matter  over 
in  her  mind.  When  she  finally  moved  it  was  with 


172  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

a  sudden  determination.  She  stood  straight  up, 
full  of  resolution  and  courage.  "I'll  go,"  she  said. 
"I'll  go  to  Philadelphia!  I  can  work  there  as  well 
as  here.  If  I  stay  the  women  will  laugh  at,  and  the 
men  will  pity  me.  There,  no  one  will  know  who 
or  what  I  am,  or  inquire  what  broke  my  heart.  I 
can  not  stay  here.  Anywhere,  anywhere,  but  in 
the  place  where  I  have  lost  his  love  and  am  so 
miserable." 

Before  Peggy  closed  her  eyes  that  night  she 
had  matured  her  plans.  She  dared  not  tell  Mr. 
Martin  of  them,  confident  that  he  would  interpose 
objections  that  she  could  not  overcome,  and  though 
her  heart  rebelled  against  leaving  one  who  had 
shown  her  such  kindness  and  sympathy  without 
asking  his  advice  and  receiving  his  blessing,  she 
dared  not  do  it.  She  had  a  little  money,  enough 
to  carry  her  on  her  journey  and  support  her 
humbly  for  a  time,  and  she  knew  she  had  but  to 
ask  Mr.  Martin  for  more  to  be  very  well  provided 
for  such  a  trip,  and  to  be  in  a  condition  to  retrace 
her  steps  if  this  should  become  necessary.  She 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  173 

learned  that  a  train  passed  a  little  station  five 
miles  away  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  and 
she  resolved  to  prepare  herself  to  take  that  train. 

It  was  a  week  before  her  preparations  were 
completed.  She  had  asked  her  old  friend  for  a 
small  sum  of  money,  and  he  had  not  only  given 
her  the  amount  desired,  but  had  insisted  upon 
doubling  the  sum.  Peggy  felt  conscience-stricken 
and  ungrateful  when  she  took  it  from  his  hand  ; 
but  her  face  was  set  and  she  would  not  turn  back. 
She  had  managed  during  the  week  to  send  a  box 
of  clothing  to  the  little  depot,  with  word  to  leave 
it  until  called  for,  and  she  found  herself  at  last 
ready  to  go. 

Oh!  how  inexpressibly  sad  seemed  that  last 
night  at  home.  She  hung  around  Mr.  Martin,  and 
his  rather  unsympathizing,  but,  after  all,  good- 
hearted  wife,  as  if  she  could  not  leave  them. 
Once  she  had  got  to  the  door,  having  bidden  them 
good-night,  but  she  turned  at  the  threshold  and, 
with  a  sudden  impulse,  threw  her  arms  around  the 
neck  of  Mrs.  Martin  and  kissed  her,  while  she 


174  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

burst  into  a  torrent  of  tears.  From  her  she  passed 
to  the  old  gentleman,  who  did  his  utmost  to  soothe 
her,  until,  finally,  with  a  great  burst,  she  flew  from 
the  room  and  shut  the  door  upon  them.  She  did 
not  sleep.  All  the  past,  the  beautiful,  happy  past, 
came  back  to  her.  All  her  petty  trials  and  vexa 
tions  were  as  nothing.  Every  thought,  every  feel 
ing,  save  that  of  gratitude  and  love  for  the  bless 
ings  which  that  humble  couple  had  showered  upon 
her,  was  buried  innumerable  fathoms  deep  as  she 
ran  over  her  life.  She  sat  down  at  her  writing- 
desk  and  literally  poured  out  her  heart  to  them. 
She  begged  their  forgiveness  for  the  step  she  was 
about  to  "take,  and  which  she  led  them  to  believe 
was  inspired  wholly  by  her  indisposition  to  endure 
the  coming  meeting  with  Zach.  and  the  obtrusive 
sympathy  of  her  acquaintances.  She  promised  to 
keep  them  informed  of  her  whereabouts,  and  hoped 
the  time  would  come  when  she  could  return  to 
them  and  beg  their  pardon  for  this  seeming  ill 
return  for  all  their  kindness.  She  left  the  letter 
on  her  table  blotted  with  tears,  and  then,  worn  out 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  175 

and  miserable,  she  fell  asleep  in  the  chair.  She 
roused  herself  many  times  during  the  night,  always 
with  a  shudder,  but  never  with  irresolution,  until, 
finally,  she  saw  the  first  faint  brightening  of  dawn 
in  the  east,  and  rose  to  go.  She  donned  her  hat 
and  shawl,  fell  upon  her  knees  once  more  in  the 
old  room  where  she  had  spent  so  many  happy 
hours,  and  then  noiselessly  slipped  out  the  rear 
door,  and  thence  through  the  stable  into  the  road. 
The  moon  was  yet  shining  brightly  in  the  heavens, 
and  cast  its  gleams  like  molten  silver  on  the  waters 
of  the  lake.  She  was  moving  on  when  the  sound 
of  voices  came  from  the  water,  and  she  turned  to 
listen.  It  was  a  song  she  heard,  mellowed  and 
softened  by  the  distance,  and  came  from  a  party 
of  revelers  who  were  returning  from  some  ball  or 
gathering  up  the  lake.  She  could  hear  the  dip  of 
the  oars  keeping  time  to  the  measured  air,  and  she 
sat  upon  a  bank  and  waited. 

"It's  so  hard,"  she  said,  "so  hard.  I  never 
thought  to  leave  you,  dear  old  hills,  and  it  is  not 
you  that  have  grown  hateful  to  me.  No,  no.  The 


176  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

rocks  are  always  faithful ;  the  trees  are  green 
according  to  promise;  the  flowers  blossom  as  of 
old.  The  very  cows  in  the  stable  blinked  their 
sleepy  eyes  lovingly  and  licked  my  hand  as  I 
passed.  All  love  Peggy  save  one,  and  he  the  one 
in  all  whose  love  she  prizes,  and  he  forsakes  her." 
She  bowed  her  head  on  her  breast  and  the  hot 
tears  coursed  down  her  cheeks ;  still  the  merry 
party  on  the  lake  drew  nearer  and  the  words  of 
their  song  came  more  distinctly: 

Spread  the  white  sails  to  the  favoring  breeze, 
While  over  the  waters  we  glide, 
Let  the  oars  dip  in  the  billows  so  blue, 
Joyfully  onward  we  ride. 

Chorus. — 

Hail  to  the  night,  hail  to  the  morn, 
Hail  to  the  beautiful  sea, 
Dip  the  oars  lightly  and  merrily  sing, 
The  bright  rippling  water  for  me. 

It  was  a  familiar  song  to  Peggy,  and  it  made 
her  task  seem  harder  as  she  listened : 

Banish  all  care  in  this  happiest  of  hours, 
Floating  so  gladly  and  free ; 


Zachariah)  the  Congressman.  177 

Hail  to  the  beautiful  waves,  silver  tipped 
By  the  moon  that  rides  over  the  sea. 

Chorus. — 

Hail  to  the  night,  hail  to  the  morn, 
Hail  to  the  beautiful  sea, 
Dip  the  oars  lightly  and  merrily  sing, 
The  bright  rippling  water  for  me. 

The  party  passed,  and  Peggy  rose  from  her 
seat  and  gazed  after  them. 

"  Farewell,  happy  friends,"  she  said.  "  But  for 
him  I  might  have  been  one  among  you  to-night, 
the  promised  wife,  perhaps,  of  the  best,  and  hap 
piest  of  you  all.  It  would  have  been  better  had 
he  left  me  in  my  ignorance,  but  now  I  am  driven 
on,  an  orphan,  an  outcast  —  friendless  and  miser 
able." 

She  took  one  more  look  at  the  scene  about  her, 
and  then  turning,  as  if  she  feared  her  resolution 
might  forsake  her,  dashed  almost  wildly  on  her  way. 

Two  hours  later  she  entered  a  car,  among  half 
a  hundred  drowsy  passengers,  and  with  her  veil 
drawn  tightly  over  her  face,  took  a  seat  in  the 
farthest  corner  of  the  close  and  ill- ventilated 

8*  M 


178  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

coach.  When  the  conductor  approached,  shortly 
after,  she  handed  him  her  ticket.  It  was  long,  and 
had  a  number  of  coupons  attached ;  but  the  last 
bore  the  name  she  had  so  long  dreamed  about 
and  pondered  over — "  Philadelphia." 


Zachariak%  the  Congressman.  179 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MR.    BOBBIN    LEARNS    A    NUMBER    OF    THINGS. 

Mr.  Timothy  Bobbin  was  fated  to  two  sur 
prises  in  his  experience  of  Washington  life.  The 
first  was  the  very  small  figure  he  cut  as  an  official 
of  the  government,  and  the  second  the  ease  with 
which  he  managed  to  adapt  himself  to  the  duty 
required  of  him.  At  first  he  was  excessively  awk 
ward,  and  was  laughed  at  somewhat,  but  there 
were  too  many  new-comers  in  those  gray  walls  to 
permit  any  one  person  to  monopolize  the  ridicule 
of  even  the  few  who  saw  him,  and  it  was  not  two 
weeks  before  he  felt  quite  at  home,  and  fully  equal 
to  the  rather  simple  tasks  assigned  him.  The 
month,  however,  seemed  very  long,  and  Bobbin 
had  spent  his  last  cent  before  pay-day  came  'round. 
When  he  walked  up  and  received  his  one  hundred 
dollars  in  crisp  greenbacks,  it  seemed  to  him  that 


180  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

he  was  on  the  highway  to  untold  wealth.  He 
never  knew  of  so  much  being  paid  for  so  little. 
The  whole  thing  seemed  a  sort  of  joke ;  and  as 
he  walked  down  the  avenue  with  this  vast  sum  in 
his  pocket  he  wondered  how  in  the  world  he  could 
manage  to  spend  it  all  before  the  next  month 
came  'round.  Of  course  a  goodly  share  had  to  be 
sent  home,  and  Bobbin  prepared  at  once  to  do  this. 
He  felt  as  if  he  must  send  a  gift  with  it,  and  so  he 
began  looking  in  the  shop  windows,  endeavoring 
to  discover  something  suitable  for  the  occasion. 
He  found  nothing  that  pleased  him  until  he  came 
to  a  jeweler's  ;  but  here  he  stood  entranced.  After 
a  while  he  walked  in.  At  first  the  prices  fright 
ened  him,  but  the  high  figures,  though  they  dis 
mayed,  only  made  the  articles  seem  more  desirable 
to  the  little  man.  He  ended  it  finally  by  purchas 
ing  a  very  gaudy,  though  not  strictly  pure,  neck 
lace,  for  which  he  paid  twenty-five  dollars.  This 
was  for  his  wife.  He  then  invested  in  rings  for 
the  children,  and  his  brain  fairly  throbbed  and  his 
face  flushed  as  he  finally  departed  from  the  shop 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  181 

bearing  the  precious  gifts  in  his  hands.  What 
would  Martin's  Corners  think  when  it  saw  Mrs. 
Bobbin  with  that  necklace,  and  the  four  little  Bob 
bins  with  those  glittering  rings  on  their  fingers? 
He  was  almost  wild  when  he  thought  of  it.  And 
yet,  had  the  delighted  fellow  reflected,  there  was 
hardly  anything  in  the  whole  range  of  purchasable 
articles  that  would  not  have  been  more  appropriate 
for  his  purpose.  The  necklace,  which  would  have 
done  very  well  for  a  city  girl,  full  of  display  and 
not  very  particular  about  quality,  was  entirely  and 
absurdly  out  of  place  on  the  neck  of  a  thin, 
pinched,  and  hungry  middle-aged  lady  in  the 
society  of  Martin's  Corners.  Comparatively  inex 
pensive  as  it  was,  it  so  overshadowed  and  shamed 
the  rest  of  Mrs.  Bobbin's  wardrobe  that  to  wear  it 
seemed  wonderfully  like  putting  diamond  brace 
lets  on  a  skeleton.  And  still  poor  little  Bobbin 
was  never  so  delighted  as  when  he  had  carefully 
sealed  the  packet  containing  these  gifts  and  de 
posited  it  in  the  'express  office.  He  counted  the 
days  and  hours  it  would  take  for  the  parcel  to 


1 82  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

reach  home,  and  could  hardly  wait  for  the  time 
when  he  would  know  that  his  family  had  received 
the  package  and  were  gloating  over  the  treasures 
it  contained.  He  had  sent  fifty  dollars  in  money 
besides  to  his  wife,  and  after  settling-  his  little  bills 
found  himself  in  possession  of  nearly  twenty 
dollars  as  a  fund  to  carry  him  through  the  month. 
Mr.  Bobbin  did  not  see  much  of  Zach.  after 
being  installed  in  his  position.  Now  and  then, 
when  he  felt  particularly  in  need  of  a  word  about 
home,  he  went  down  to  Mr.  Martin's  hotel,  and 
tried  to  start  a  conversation,  but  such  visits  were 
not  satisfactory.  Frequently  Zach.  was  out,  at 
other  times  occupied,  and  even  when  he  found 
him  alone  there  was  a  sort  of  air  about  the  new 
born  statesman  that  was  not  encouraging  or  pleas 
ant.  He  seemed  to  Bobbin  to  be  always  saying 
mentally :  "  Well,  this  is  one  of  the  drawbacks  of 
position  —  one  must  receive  these  persons  whether 
it  suits  him  or  not,  and  be  bored,  no  matter 
how  unpleasant  the  infliction;"  and  Bobbin, 
who  with  all  his  simplicity  was  a  sensitive  little 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  183 

fellow,  could  not  bear  to  feel  that  he  was  an 
intruder.  He  never  forgot  either  how  he  met 
Zach.  in  the  park  shortly  after  his  arrival,  and 
before  he  realized  the  truth  of  what  he  now 
knew,  and  accosted  him  as  of  old,  and  that 
Zach.  smiled  patronizingly  and  barely  touched 
his  hand,  turning  immediately  with  a  laugh  to 
a  couple  of  fashionable  ladies  at  his  side,  and 
saying  meaningly,  in  response  to  their  look  of 
inquiry :  "  Oh,  one  of  my  constituents,  such  as 
every  member  h?s."  He  did  not  intend  it  for  the 
ear  of  Bobbin,  but  the  latter  heard  it,  and  went 
away  feeling  excessively  mean  and  as  if  he  were 
someway  a  burden  to  Zach. 

It  had  been  a  good  while  now  since  Bobbin 
had  even  seen  his  Member.  He  was  getting  along 
well  enough  with  his  duties,  began  to  feel  quite  at 
home  in  Washington,  and  had  in  a  great  measure 
worn  off  that  look  of  excessive  verdancy  which  he 
wore  when  he  first  came.  His  clothes,  mainly 
through  the  little  additions  which  he  had  made  in 
the  way  of  shirt  collars  and  ties,  seemed  to  have 


184  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

been  possibly  designed  for  him.  His  hat  and 
shoes  were  brushed,  his  hair  was  cut,  and  he 
actually  wore  gloves  on  Sundays  and  the  more 
important  occasions.  His  family,  too,  were  look 
ing  up  at  home,  but  what  troubled  Bobbin  a  little 
was  the  fact  that  his  wife  seemed  entering  on  a 
sea  of  extravagance  such  as  he  would  have  deemed 
impossible.  The  fact  was,  that  necklace  did  the 
business,  though  Bobbin  hardly  comprehended  it. 
It  had  to  be  worked  up  to,  and  necessitated  a  new 
wardrobe  throughout.  And  then  the  house  looked 
shabby  by  the  side  of  good  clothes,  and  new  furni 
ture  was  ordered.  The  latter  necessity  had  seemed 
so  imperative  that  Mrs.  Bobbin  could  not  wait  for 
her  usual  monthly  remittance  to  pay  for  it,  but  had 
it  "booked"  until  that  expected  arrival.  And  so  it 
went  on,  growing  worse  daily,  until  in  a  short  time 
Bobbin  could  look  ahead  and  see  his  salary  appro 
priated  for  a  month  or  two  in  advance.  However, 
he  was  not  a  person  to  worry,  and,  except  for  a 
word  or  two  of  caution  to  his  wife,  never  com 
plained.  Of  course  she  replied  that  only  such 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  185 

things  as  were  absolutely  necessary  were  thought 
of,  and  he  believed  it,  wondering  all  the  while  how 
in  the  world  he  managed  to  live  before  he  came 
into  office. 

Mr.  Bobbin  was  seated  in  his  modest  little 
room  one  evening  in  the  early  days  of  April  think 
ing  of  his  coming  vacation  for  a  month,  at  which 
time  he  expected  to  return  home,  when  his  land 
lady  entered  with  a  flourish,  and  informed  him  that 
a  gentleman  wished  to  speak  with  him. 

"Mr.  Martin,  he  said  his  name  was,"  exclaimed 
the  woman. 

Bobbin  started  as  if  he  had  been  shot.  The 
idea  of  a  visit  from  Zach.  had  never  entered  his 
head.  "  Why,  it's  the  member  from  our  district," 
he  whispered,  and  then  he  rushed  past  the  landlady 
into  the  narrow  hall.  He  was  hastily  hurrying 
down  stairs,  when  he  met  Zach.  coming  up.  "  I 
thought  I  would  walk  up  to  your  room,  Bobbin," 
said  Zach. 

Bobbin   was   of  course   delighted,  but  terribly 

f 

flustrated,  and  in  his  excitement  caught  his  toe  in 


1 86  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

a  hole  in  the  carpet  and  fell  over  on  the  landing. 
He  got  up  redder  than  ever,  and  encountered  his 
landlady,  Mrs.  Crispin,  standing  in  the  hall  where 
he  had  left  her,  rubbing  her  hands  together  and 
bowing. 

"Now,  Mr.  Bobbin,"  said  that  lady,  "take  the 
parlor;  do  —  it's  entirely  at  your  service.  I'll  keep 
everybody  out ;  it's  too  chilly  up  here." 

Bobbin  really  thought  favorably  of  this  plan, 
for  his  one  room  was  inconveniently  small  and 
rather  cold  ;  but  Zach.  said  he  could  not  stay  long, 
and  the  two  passed  on.  Mrs.  Crispin  wasn't  con 
tent,  however.  She  wanted  a  word  more,  and  she 
had  it. 

"You  must  excuse  me,  Mr.  Martin,"  said  she, 
smirking  dreadfully,  "for  not  a-knowing  ye  when 
ye  first  came  in  — 

"Oh,  certainly,"  interrupted  Zach. 

"Mr.  Bobbin  did  not  tell  me  you  was  coming," 
she  continued.  "I  s'pose,  though,  he  didn't  know 
it  himself." 

Here   Mrs.   Crispin  laughed  loudly,  as  if  this 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  187 

fact  were  immensely  funny.  Bobbin,  who  was  very 
mindful  of  the  feelings  of  anybody  and  everybody, 
had  paused  with  his  hand  on  the  door  to  give  Mrs. 
Crispin  a  chance  to  get  through  her  speech,  and 
now  made  a  movement  to  go  in,  but  the  lady  made 
another  dart  forward,  saying : 

"Next  time  you  come  we'll  be  better  fixed,  I 
hope" — and  then,  without  a  pause,  "Do  you  know 
Mr.  Jackson,  of  the  House?" 

Zach.  signified  that  he  had  that  honor. 

"Mr.  Jackson  used  to  board  with  me  when  I 
lived  on  Ninth  street,"  said  she.  "He's  a  nice 
gentleman." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  replied  Zach. 

"Give  him  my  respects,"  said  she,  "when  you 
see  him.  He'll  remember  me.  Crispin  is  the 
name.  Should  be  glad  for  you  and  him  to  call 
'round  some  evening." 

Mrs.  C.  was  going  on  again,  when  Zach.  made  a 
gesture  of  impatience,  and  •  Bobbin  opened  his 
door  and  let  him  escape. 

Mrs.  Crispin  was  not  a  bad  woman,  but  she  had 


The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

that  weakness  which  is  almost  painful  to  witness, 
and  yet  so  common  in  Washington  —  the  worship 
of  position.  Her  judgment  of  a  person  was  made 
up  from  the  sort  of  office  he  held,  and  this  had 
become  so  much  a  part  of  her  that  she  never 
seriously  thought  of  any  one  as  of  any  conse 
quence  whatever  who  was  not  in  the  employ  of 
the  government  at  a  good  salary. 

Bobbin  was  embarrassed,  as  we  have  said,  over 
Zach.'s  visit,  and  he  gave  him  the  best  chair  with  a 
hurried  nervousness  that  revealed  the  importance 
which  he  attached  to  the  call.  Zach.,  however,  did 
not  appear  to  notice  it.  His  face  was  gloomy  as 
he  sat  down  with  a  si^h.  Bobbin  tried  to  talk  on 

o 

general  subjects,  but  Zach.  only  looked  at  him 
without  seeming  to  understand.  At  last  he  moved 
restlessly,  and  said: 

"  Bobbin,  you  know  Miss  Clover,  who  lives 
with  us?" 

"Who,  Peggy?"  said  Bobbin,  his  face  bright 
ening. 

"Yes,"  returned  Zach. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  189 

"Oh,  everybody  knows  her,"  said  Bobbin. 

"Well,"  continued  Zach.,  hesitatingly,  "I  don't 
suppose  you  are  aware  of  it,  but  she's  left  our 
house." 

"Left!"  exclaimed  Bobbin. 

"Yes,"  said  Zach.,  "gone  away  in  a  very  strange 
manner.  She  wrote  a  note  saying  she  was  going 
to  Philadelphia.  Now,  what  I  want  to  know  is, 
did  you  ever  happen  to  hear  of  any  friends  or 
relatives  she  had  in  Philadelphia?" 

"Never,"  replied  Bobbin,  " I  supposed  she  was 
an  orphan." 

"So  she  is,"  returned  Zach.,  "but  I  thought  it 
barely  possible  that  you  had  heard  of  some  one 
she  had  discovered  in  that  region  after  I  left.  The 
letter  that  I  have  got  from  home  don't  say  anything 
about  that.  There  is  no  reason  for  her  going 
there  that  I  can  see,  save  the  fact  that  she  thought 
to  find  relatives  there." 

"It's  strange  that  she  should  leave  your  fath 
er's,"  said  Bobbin. 

Zach.  did  not  answer,  but  put  his  hand  to  his 


igo  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

head,  and  brought  it  down  slowly  over  his 
eyes. 

"I  think  I  shall  go  home  pretty  soon,  Bobbin," 
said  he;  "even  before  the  session  is  over.  If  you 
would  like  to  send  any  word  I  will  let  you  know 
before  I  leave." 

Bobbin  thanked  him.  "  I  hope  Peggy  will  come 
back,"  said  he,  consolingly. 

"Yes,"  responded  Zach.,  "she  will,  probably. 
Don't  say  anything  about  this  matter,"  he  added, 
"  I  don't  care  to  have  it  talked  about."  And  Bob 
bin  promised,  though  he  wondered  who  he  would 
find  in  Washington  to  talk  over  such,  a  matter  as 
the  journeying  of  a  girl  from  a  Western  State  to 
Philadelphia.  Zach.  took  his  leave  soon  after,  his 
face  bearing  the  troubled  look  that  it  had  worn 
when  he  entered.  The  fact  was  he  had  been 
astonished,  as  well  as  pained  and  grieved,  to  hear 
of  Peggy's  mysterious  departure.  Someway  it 
seemed  to  show  her  to  him  in  a  new  light, 
and  to  endear  her  to  him.  He  was  alarmed, 
however,  as  well  as  grieved,  and  feared  that 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  191 

she  would  fall  into  bad  hands,  inexperienced  as 
she  was. 

It  was  only  a  few  days  subsequent  to  this  that 
he  took  the  cars  for  Philadelphia,  intending  if  he 
heard  nothing  of  her  there  to  go  on  home.  A  few 
days  after  there  appeared  in  the  Philadelphia 
papers  the  following  advertisement: 

PERSONAL— IF  PEGGY  c.,  WHO  LEFT  HOME  A 

few  weeks  since  to  come  to  Philadelphia,  will  communi 
cate  with  "  Zach.,"  she  will  confer  a  great  favor  and  relieve 
her  friends  of  much  anxiety.  Send  letter  to  Continental 
Hotel  for  three  days. 

Zach.  waited  anxiously,  but  no  reply  came.  He 
stayed  one  day  more  than  he  had  intended,  in 
hopes  of  hearing  something,  but  finally  despaired 
of  finding  her  and  went  on  his  way.  His  arrival 
home  was  unlocked  for,  and  occasioned  surprise. 
His  father  received  him  coldly,  and  avoided  all 
possible  reference  to  Peggy.  Through  his  mother, 
however,  he  learned  the  full  particulars  of  her 
going,  and  was  able  to  judge  something  of  what  it 
had  cost  her. 

"You'd  have  thought  the  girl  was  crazy  that 


192  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

night,"  said  Mrs.  Martin.  "  First  a-huggin'  me  and 
then  a  huggin'  the  old  man,  and  nearly  squeezin' 
the  breath  out  o'  both  of  us.  The  next  moraine 

o 

she  was  gone,  leaving  the  letter.  I  never  see  your 
father  so  worked  up.  He  tore  'round  as  if  he  was 
wild.  He  rid  a  horse  barebacked  and  in  a  full  run 
down  to  the  station,  but  the  train  had  gone,  and 
Peggy  with  it.  It  wuz  all  I  could  do  to  live  with 
him  for  a  week  or  so.  He  wrote,  and  telegraphed, 
and  went  to  see  lawyers,  and  walked  the  house  o' 
nights,  but  finally  the  letter  came  from  her,  and  he 
quieted  down."  Zach.  held  the  letter  referred  to 
in  his  hand,  having  just  read  it,  and  felt  much 
relieved.  It  ran  thus: 

PHILADELPHIA,  April  7. 

DEAR,  DEAR  FATHER  MARTIN  :  You  must  not  blame  me 
nor  worry  about  me.  If  you  only  knew  what  it  cost  me  to 
part  with  you,  I  know  I  would  not  have  to  ask  you  twice  to 
forgive  me.  I  have  found  a  good  home  here,  and  the 
best  and  kindest  family  in  the  world,  after  your  own.  Give 
my  warmest  love  to  everybody,  and  write  me  a  good  long 
letter,  addressed  to  the  general  Post-office  here.  I  will  write 
you  often,  and  tell  you  how  I  am  getting  along.  Ever  your 
loving  PEGGY. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  193 

"The  old  man  won't  trust  the  letter  out  of  his 
hands  for  a  minute,  scarcely,"  said  Mrs.  Martin, 
"and  I  had  hard  work  to  get  it  even  for  you  to 
look  at.  He  seems  to  be  perfectly  dazed  about 
that  girl,  and  she  was  good  enough,  though  I  never 
did  see  the  sense  of  making  so  much  fuss  over 
her.  She  was  none  too  polite  to  me,  and  used  to 
aggravate  me,  after  you  went  away,  awfully.  Only 
the  day  afore  she  got  your  letter  she  stuck  her 
head  out  of  the  garret  winder,  as  I  went  into  the 
garden,  and  sung  out: 

Hi,  Betty  Martin,  tiptoe,  tiptoe, 

and  in  the  provokinist  way,  too,  you  ever  heard. 
Not  that  I  cared,"  continued  Mrs.  M.,  "only  it 
looked  very  imperlite  for  a  young  lady  to  be  con- 
ductin'  herself  like  that  to  one  as  good  as  her  own 
mother." 

Zach.  heard  all  this  and  more,  and  with  a  grow 
ing  conviction  that  he  had  under-estimated  Peggy, 
and  with  a  return  of  something  of  his  old  love  for 
her  which  he  could  scarcely  understand.  Nothing 

q  N 


194  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

makes  men  or  women  value  one  of  the  opposite 
sex,  whom  they  have  looked  upon  as  exclusively 
their  own,  so  much  as  the  proof  that  they  are 
not,  after  all,  indispensable  to  such  person.  A 
strange  fact,  but  an  indisputable  one.  If  the 
reader  doubts  it,  he  may  easily  convince  himself  by 
a  little  shrewd  practice. 

The  grave,  almost  sad,  demeanor  of  Zach.  had 
its  influence  on  his  father,  and  before  many  days 
the  two  were  friendly  again.  It  was  a  sort  of  sat 
isfaction  and  atonement  to  Mr.  Martin  to  see 
Zach.'s  apparent  contrition,  and  he  could  not  har 
bor  resentment  toward  his  only  child.  So  it  came 
about  that  when  Zach.  finally  returned  to  his 
duties,  he  left  home  at  peace  with  both  his  father 
and  mother,  and  with  a  lighter  heart.  Another 
letter  had  been  received  from  Peggy,  in  answer  to 
that  of  Mr.  Martin,  in  which,  though  firmly  refus 
ing  to  return  at  that  time,  she  promised  to  come 
back  some  day,  "when  perfectly  cured,"  and 
make  her  home  with  them.  She  also  spoke  of 
taking  a  journey  with  the  family  in  which  she  had 


Zachariah)  the  Congressman.  195 

found  a  home,  a  long  journey,  she  said,  though 
without  giving  the  destination ;  but  she  assured 
them  that  her  letters  should  be  as  frequent  as  ever. 

And  so  Zach.  went  back  to  Washington.  Of 
course  he  called  on  Belle  when  he  returned,  and 
gave  her  a  partial  history  of  the  affair  at  home. 
He  would  have  told  her  all,  but  that  young  lady 
turned  up  her  pretty  nose  and  professed  to  be 
weary  of  hearing  the  wonderful  performances  of 
a  vulgar  country  girl  constantly  narrated,  and 
Zach.,  with  a  flush  upon  his  face,  not  all  caused  by 
shame  at  having  dared  to  recount  such  a  history  in 
her  presence,  was  driven  into  silence. 

But  one  other  circumstance  worth  relating 
occurred  during  the  early  period  of  Zach.'s  and 
Bobbin's  life  in  Washington.  It  was  such  a  reve 
lation  to  Bobbin,  however,  that  it  requires  to  be 
mentioned. 

One  morning  Bobbin  received  a  note  from 
Zach.,  saying  that  he  would  address  the  House 
that  day,  and  would  like  to  have  his  constituent 
present  on  the  occasion.  Bobbin  was  delighted, 


196  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

being  perfectly  sure  that  his  friend  would  electrify 
the  country,  and  he  at  once  applied  for  leave  of 
absence.  This  was  readily  granted,  and  at  an 
early  hour  Bobbin  made  his  way  to  the  Capitol  to 
make  sure  of  a  good  seat.  It  had  been  announced 
that  the  day  would  be  given  up  to  debate,  and  the 
inexperienced  little  man  believed  there  would  be 
some  sharp  sparring.  He  was  somewhat  surprised 
upon  reaching  the  House  to  see  both  the  galleries 
and  the  floor  well-nigh  deserted,  and  the  least  imag 
inable  signs  of  an  intellectual  contest.  However, 
he  thought  the  people  had  not  yet  begun  to  arrive, 
and  he  selected  a  very  eligible  seat  and  prepared 
to  listen  attentively.  It  was  Saturday,  a  day 
known  in  House  parlance  as  "buncombe  day," 
when  members  who  desire  to  get  their  speeches 
before  their  constituents,  are  permitted  to  repeat 
them  on  the  floor,  and  have  them  taken  down  by 
the  official  reporters  and  printed  in  the  official 
"Record;"  but  Bobbin  didn't  know  anything  about 
that.  He  glanced  around  from  time  to  time, 
expecting  to  behold  a  rush  of  visitors;  but  they 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  197 

did  not  come.  Away  off  in  a  corner  of  the  gen 
tleman's  gallery  a  colored  man  was  fast  asleep,  and 
scattered  here  and  there  were  four  or  five  other 
men,  who  appeared  to  fancy  the  genial  warmth  of 
the  chamber,  There  were  no  ladies  present,  the 
diplomatic  gallery  was  deserted,  and  but  seven 
members  were  in  their  seats  when  Zach.  arose  to 
"address  the  House."  Bobbin  was  surprised  and 
hurt.  That  there  should  be  no  more  attention 
than  this  shown  Zach.  was  almost  like  a  personal 
affront.  However,  he  determined  there  should  be 
one  attentive  listener,  and  he  opened  his  ears  wide 
as  Zach.  began.  The  speaker's  theme  was  "The 
Perils  of  the  Republic,"  and  he  dashed  into  the 
subject  manfully.  Warming  up  as  he  progressed, 
Zach.'s  fine  voice  rang  through  the  deserted  hall, 
and  Bobbin  was  amazed  that  the  few  persons  who 
were  present  did  not  cheer  him.  But  with  the 
exception  of  one  other  person  beside  himself, 
those  present  seemed  utterly  oblivious  of  Zach.'s 
existence.  The  gentleman  in  the  Speaker's  seat 
(it  was  not  the  Speaker,  which  Bobbin  looked 


198  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

upon  as  another  insult)  was  hob-nobbing  with  a 
member  standing  near  the  chair ;  two  of  the  mem 
bers  were  writing  at  their  desks,  one  was  lying  on 
a  sofa  with  a  handkerchief  over  his  head,  and  two 
others  were  talking  to  each  other,  and  laughing 
and  slapping  their  legs  near  the  door  of  one  of  the 
cloak  rooms.  The  one  other  listener  beside  Bob 
bin  was  a  member  who  sat  near  and  in  front  of 
Zach.,  and  who  was  leaning  back  in  his  seat  with 
his  feet  over  a  desk,  and  eating  a  very  red  apple. 
This  man  watched  and  listened  very  closely.  At 
last  Zach.  paused  for  a  moment,  took  a  swallow  of 
water,  and  nodded  to  the  man.  At  this  the  latter 
arose  and  shouted  — 

"Mr.  Speaker!" 

"The  gentleman  from  Georgia,"  said  the  Chair 
man. 

"I  would  like  to  ask  the  gentleman  a  question," 
shouted  the  stranger,  growing  very  red. 

"Does  the  gentleman  consent  to  be  inter 
rupted?"  inquired  the  Speaker. 

"Certainly!"  responded  Zach. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  199 

"Of  course  he  does,"  thought  Bobbin.  "Just 
let  that  fellow  with  the  red  head  fire  away  now ; 
Zach.  will  eat  him  up  if  he  gets  at  him." 

"  I  would  like  to  ask  the  gentleman,"  pursued 
the  gentleman  from  Georgia,  "whether,  in  his 
opinion,  the  fathers  of  the  Republic  ever  intended 
this  country  to  be  ruled  by  thieves  and  brigands?" 

"Certainly  not,"  responded  Zach.;  "but  neither, 
let  me  say  to  my  honorable  friend,  did  they  intend 
it  to  be  governed  by  murderers  and  banditti." 

"Very  well!"  said  the  red-headed  man,  "then 
why  advocate  a  principle  which  turns  the  govern 
ment  over  to  such  men?" 

"  I  beg  pardon  of  my  honorable  friend,"  replied 
Zach.,  "but  I  advocate  no  such  principle." 

"  That  red-headed  man's  a  fool,"  thought  Bob 
bin,  "or  he  never  would  have  dreamt  of  such  a 
thing." 

"  But  I  think  different,"  said  the  gentleman 
from  Georgia. 

"Who  cares  what  you  think?"  thought  Bobbin. 

"I  am  very  sorry,"  replied  Zach,  "but  I  am  not 


2oo  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

responsible  for  the  errors  of  my  honorable  friend. 
He  is  simply  assailing  a  monster  of  his  own  cre 
ation." 

"That  finishes  him,"  thought  Bobbin  ;  and  so  it 
did,  for  the  man  said  no  more. 

Zach.  went  on  with  his  speech.  When  he  came 
to  the  peroration  the  sentences  grew  very  familiar 
to  Bobbin.  He  had  heard  them  often  in  Zach's 
campaign,  and  had  cheered  them  to  the  echo  time 
and  again.  He  grew  enthusiastic  once  more  as  he 
listened,  and  as  Zach.  with  loud  voice  and  animated 
gesture  appealed  to  the  gallery,  his  constituent 
responded  as  of  old,  and  broke  into  a  clapping  of 
hands  and  pounding  of  feet,  which  made  that  por 
tion  of  the  building  ring.  Immediately  the  Chair 
man  seized  the  gavel  and  began  hammering  the 
desk.  This  brought  Bobbin  to  a  stop.  The  few 
persons  in  the  room  were  looking  at  him,  most  of 
them  with  a  broad  grin  on  their  faces.  The  acting 
Speaker  rose  very  gravely  and  requested  Zach.  to 
suspend  his  remarks.  Looking  toward  Bobbin 
that  official  said: 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  201 

"The  rules  of  the  House  forbid  any  expres 
sions  of  approval  or  disproval  from  the  audience. 
To  violate  this  rule  is  a  gross  discourtesy  to  this 
body.  If  there  are  any  further  manifestations  of 
this  character  the  galleries  will  be  cleared,  and  the 
Sergeant-at-Arms  will  see  this  order  enforced." 

Then  the  Speaker  sat  down  and  hid  his  face  in 
his  handkerchief.  Bobbin  felt  very  small  and  very 
guilty  after  this.  He  had  forgotten  all  about  the 
rule,  even  if  he  had  ever  heard  it,  and  he  didn't 
know  for  a  while  but  he  had  committed  a  peniten 
tiary  offense.  However,  he  sat  till  Zach.  closed  his 
remarks,  and  then  was  again  amazed  to  see  his 
idol  go  off  arm  in  arm  with  the  red-headed  mem 
ber  from  Georgia  who  had  interrupted  him.  It 
could  not  be  that  the  man  had  questioned  Zach. 
under  a  prior  agreement,  and  to  make  the  speech 
appear  natural,  and  like  a  genuine  debate,  in  print; 
and  yet  it  did  look  suspicious,  that's  a  fact. 

When  Bobbin  met  Zach.  the  latter  seemed 
pleased  instead  of  mortified  at  the  former's  ap 
plause,  and  Bobbin  himself  thought,  when  he  be- 


202  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

held  the  speech  in  the  "  Record,"  that  it  looked 
very  well  to  see  the  sentence,  "  Loud  applause  in 
the  galleries,"  inserted  just  at  the  end  of  Zach.'s 
most  brilliant  period.  Some  way  it  looked  as 
though  the  feeling  had  become  so  intense  that  it 
had  actually  burst  all  bounds,  and  defied  all  efforts 
at  restraint.  And  so  Zach.'s  constituents  thought 
as  they  read  the  speech,  never  dreaming  that  poor, 
humble  little  Bobbin  had  alone  constituted  the 
"galleries"  that  had  broken  into  such  an  uproar. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  203 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THREE     YEARS     AFTER 

Three  years  had  elapsed  since  the  incidents 
recounted  in  the  last  chapter.  With  few  excep 
tions,  affairs  remained  about  as  they  were  then. 
Bobbin's  family  were  in  Washington.  Barncastle 
still  preyed  up  and  down  the  avenue,  and  all  the 
other  Washington  characters  exhibited  that  un- 
changeability  which  seems  such  a  part  of  society 
habitues  in  the  Capitol.  Zach.  had  been  re-elected, 
but  only  after  a  severe  contest  in  his  party  conven 
tion,  and,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  only  after  pledges 
of  a  personal  character  to  rival  candidates,  which 
he  found  it  extremely  unpleasant  to  fulfill.  Few 
knew  of  the  caucusing,  the  consulting,  the  dicker 
ing,  the  trading,  so  to  speak,  that  went  on  before 
the  meeting  of  the  convention  which  renominated 
Zach.  for  the  second  time.  Even  Zach.  knew  com- 


2O4  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

paratively  little  of  it.  And  yet  he  was  largely 
responsible.  His  friends  told  him  what  assurances 
he  ought  to  give  deserving  workers,  etc.,  and  he 
generally  yielded  to  their  advice.  They  assured 
him  that  Snap,  who  was  a  dangerous  competitor 
should  he  conclude  to  try  his  chances,  would  be 
satisfied  if  he  could  be  reasonably  sure  of  the 
Collector's  office  held  by  Spiker,  and  really  they 
thought  that  a  division  was  only  fair  play,  and 
that  Snap  should  have  it.  Spiker  had  held  it  two 
years,  and  why  not  give  it  to  Snap  ? 

And  Zach.,  yielding  to  them,  said  they  could 
settle  that  as  they  thought  fair.  And  so  on.  The 
result  was  that  Zach.  was  renominated  and  re- 
elected,  Snap  working  with  great  zeal  for  him,  and 
gaining  much  credit  for  his  devotion  to  the  "cause" 
after  the  "cause" — i.  e.,  the  party  —  had  turned  its 
back  upon  him. 

When  it  was  determined  to  remove  Spiker  and 
give  the  place  to  Snap,  the  former  should  have 
been  informed  of  the  fact,  but  this  course  being 
deemed  impolitic  he  was  kept  entirely  in  the  dark, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  205 

and  worked  like  a  Trojan  for  the  young  man's 
re-election.  It  seemed  like  the  deepest  ingrati 
tude  to  remove  him,  but  such  a  course  was  de 
manded,  and  Zach.  wrote  a  long  apologetic  and 
rather  gushing  letter  to  Spiker,  informing  him  of 
the  facts,  and  telling  him  that  he  could  resign,  and 
thus  save  appearances. 

The  rage  of  Spiker  at  this  knew  no  bounds. 
He  scorned  secrecy.  He  trumpeted  his  wrongs  to 
the  world.  He  seemed  to  want  the  very  rocks  to 
understand  the  reason  of  his  base  betrayal,  and  he 
swore  eternal  vengeance  against  the  men  who  had 
brought  about  his  removal,  and  Zach.  Martin  in 
particular.  Henceforward  there  were  two  wings 
to  the  party  in  that  district,  and  Spiker,  loud,  bold, 
and  unscrupulous,  led  the  disaffected. 

Among  those  whom  the  irate  ex -Collector 
called  in  to  help  him  at  this  juncture  was  Bobbin. 
The  latter  received  a  letter  recounting  the  form 
er's  wrongs,  reminding  him  of  the  circumstances 
of  his  appointment,  and  who  brought  it  about,  and 
asking  that  a  close  watch  be  kept  on  "  Mr.  Mar- 


206  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

tin's"  movements  in  Washington,  and  a  report 
made  of  the  same.  "You  remember  your  prom 
ise,"  said  Spiker,  "you  stand  by  me  and  I'll  stand 
by  you.  I'm  going  to  beat  that  muckle-head  if  it 
takes  every  cent  I've  got  in  the  world." 

Bobbin  was  very  much  distressed  at  this.  He 
wanted  to  serve  Spiker,  but  he  could  not  become 
a  spy  in  such  business.  Finally  he  compromised 
the  matter  by  writing  Spiker  that  he  would  do  all 
that  he  honorably  could  in  the  way  of  giving  infor 
mation. 

Meantime,  strangely  enough,  Bobbin  received  a 
call  from  Hartwell.  Ostensibly  Hartwell  called 
on  business  connected  with  the  insurance  com 
pany  of  which  he  was  secretary,  but  he  had  a  great 
deal  to  say  about  Mr.  Martin,  and  many  inquiries 
to  make  respecting  that  gentleman.  Among  other 
things  he  inquired  as  to  the  feeling  in  the  district 
toward  Zach.,  who  of  his  party  opposed  him  there, 
who  had  been  removed  from  office,  and  the  name 
of  some  of  the  newspapers  of  the  opposite  party. 
Bobbin  freely  gave  all  the  information  desired,  and 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  207 

indeed  was  rather  glad  to  talk  about  affairs  with 
which  he  was  so  familiar.  Hartwell  frequently  met 
him  after  that,  and  at  one  time  questioned  him 
closely  regarding  his  individual  feelings  toward 
Zach.,  and  went  so  far  as  to  hint  at  there  being  a 
little  money  in  the  latter's  defeat  to  one  who  might 
assist  in  compassing  it ;  but  this  idea  was  repelled 
so  earnestly,  and  yet  so  simply,  that  Hartwell 
went  no  further.  Indeed,  after  that  his  attentions 
ceased  altogether. 

It  was  only  a  week  or  two  subsequent  that 
Bobbin  received  a  letter  from  Spiker  upbraiding 
him  strongly,  and  informing  him  that  he  (Spiker) 
had  his  eye  upon  him,  and  would  pay  him  back. 
From  words  used  in  the  letter  Bobbin  made  up 
his  mind  that  in  some  way  Spiker  and  Hartwell 
were  corresponding,  and  both  working  toward  the 
same  end. 

Meantime  Mr.  Barncastle  was,  as  we  said,  still 
engaged  at  his  old  business.  He  was  the  same 
bland,  agreeable  gentleman  to  strangers ;  the  same 
abiding  terror  to  acquaintances. 


208  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  introduce  the 
reader  to  the  home  of  Barncastle  —  take  down  the 
bars,  as  it  were,  and  drive  into  his  private  grounds. 

Mr.  Barncastle  was  a  boarder;  not  "perma 
nent,"  in  the  special  sense  in  which  that  term  is 
employed  by  landladies  with  yearning  rooms  to  let, 
for,  truth  to  tell,  that  gentleman  did  not,  as  a  rule, 
tarry  long  at  one  place.  But  now,  three  years 
after  his  introduction  to  the  reader,  he  was  living 
in  the  house  of  a  tender-hearted  widow  named 
Dabster. 

It  was  a  morning  in  February,  and  Mrs.  Dab 
ster  was  busily  engaged  setting  Mr.  Barncastle's 
room  to  rights. 

The  room  contained  a  bed,  a  few  chairs,  a  well- 
worn  carpet,  a  shaky-looking  bookcase,  a  wash- 
stand,  mirror,  and  a  table  with  a  green  cover.  On 
the  latter  was  a  model  for  a  monument,  made  of 
pasteboard,  and  looking  something  like  the  origi 
nal  design  for  that  exhausted  pile  at  the  banks 
of  the  Potomac,  stunted  and  woe-begone,  which 
commemorates  at  the  same  time  the  services  of 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  209 

Washington  and  the  disinclination  of  our  people 
to  pay  for  them.  Mrs.  Dabster,  as  we  said,  was 
setting  the  room  to  rights,  and,  as  she  did  so,  was 
indulging  in  a  little  talk  to  herself. 

"There!"  she  exclaimed,  as  she  put  the  finish 
ing  touches  on  her  work;  "I've  done  it  again.  I 
declare  to  mercy  the  pains  I  take  with  that  man  is 
mor'n  many  a  woman  'ud  do  for  her  own  husband. 
And  not  a  'thank  you'  do  I  get  for  it,  to  say  noth 
ing  about  money.  He  hasn't  paid  me  a  cent  goin' 
on  four  months,  and  seven  dollars  and  twenty-five 
cents  of  it  borrowed  money.  But  I'll  not  wait  any 
longer,  Mr.  Barncastle.  Pay  you  must." 

Mrs.  Dabster  was  leaving  the  room  when  she 
heard  Mr.  Barncastle's  voice  at  the  door. 

"Come  in,  Judge!"  said  he  to  some  one  out 
side.  "You  won't!  Well,  then,  good-by.  Keep 
the  reins  taut ;  mind  the  fluctuations  in  the  mar 
ket,  and  if  anything  occurs  call  on  me."  With 
this,  delivered  in  the  most  cheerful  tones,  Barn- 
castle  shut  the  door  and  ascended  the  stairs. 

When  Mrs.  Dabster  saw  him  coming  she  stepped 
o 


2io  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

back  into  the  room  again  and  busied  herself  with 
the  curtains,  so  that  her  back  was  to  her  boarder 
when  he  entered.  Mr.  Barncastle  stopped  as  he 
came  in,  and  gazed  around  with  satisfaction. 

"There!"  he  exclaimed,  "is  what  I  call  a  snug 
gery.  There  is  true  comfort  and  elegance.  That 
is  what  a  female  can  do.  That  is  what  the  magi 
cal,  transforming  hand  of  woman  can  accomplish. 
O  love!  banished  from  the  heart  of  Barncastle, 
but  still  interesting  as  a  scientific  curiosity,  what 
wonder  that  men  seek  you  where  alone  you  can  be 
found  in  the  tender  and  sympathizing  hearts  of 
the  daughters  of  Eve!  O!  Cupid,  cruel,  heartless, 
unrelenting  Cupid,  do  not  tempt  me.  Let  me 
escape ! " 

Mr.  Barncastle  stepped  into  the  center  of  the 
room,  and  then  appearing  to  recognize  his  land 
lady  for  the  first  time,  stopped  short,  striking  his 
favorite  attitude. 

"Mrs.  Dabster,"  said  he,  "who  would  think  it 
of  him?" 

"Of  who?"  inquired  Mrs.  Dabster. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  211 

"Of  Cupid,"  responded  Barncastle.  "So  fat,  so 
chubby,  so  rosy!  Pink  toes  and  double  chin,  and 
yet  what  a  bare-backed  little  rascal  he  is!" 

Mrs.  Dabster  simpered. 

"But  that  aside,"  continued  Barncastle,  "let  me 
here  and  now,  Mrs.  Dabster,  on  my  knees,  figura 
tively  speaking,  beg  your  forgiveness.  When  I 
see  these  attentions  which  are  daily  showered 
upon  me,  and,  above  all,  when  I  gaze  upon  that 
face  unruffled  by  impatience,  undisfigured  by  avar 
ice,  and  know  at  the  same  moment  that  beans  are 
sixpence  a  quart,  and  veal  ribs  seven  cents  a 
pound,  I  crimson  for  my  sex." 

Barncastle  stopped,  brushed  his  handkerchief 
across  his  eyes  as  if  to  clear  away  a  mist,  and 
straightening  up  as  if  determined  to  immolate 
himself  upon  an  altar,  said  solemnly : 

"  I  owe  you,  Mrs.  Dabster  thirteen  weeks' 
board " 

"  Fourteen,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Dabster. 

"Fourteen?"  responded  Barncastle,  as  if  ask 
ing  himself  a  question;  "it  is,  it  is,  fourteen  is  the 


212  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

number.  Fourteen  weeks'  board  and  seven  dollars 
borrowed  money." 

"  And  a  quarter,"  put  in  Mrs.  Dabster. 

"And  a  quarter,"  repeated  Barncastle — "so  it  is 
again  —  seven  and  a  quarter.  Do  I  ever  forget  it? 
Is  it  absent  from  my  thoughts  by  night  or  by  day? 
The  trouble  with  me,  Mrs.  Dabster,  is  that  my 
heart  is  made  of  too  tender  stuff.  I  wish  it  was 
flint,  a  rock,  a  mountain  of  granite,"  said  Barn- 
castle,  vehemently. 

"Oh,  no,"  said  the  landlady. 

"I  do,"  pursued  Barncastle.  "Then  I  should 
please  justice  whatever  became  of  mercy.  Only 
yesterday  I  had  that  money  and  was  bringing  it 
home  to  you.  I  pictured  the  brightening  of  the 
eye,  the  glad  flush  of  the  cheek  with  which  you 
would  receive  it,  and  which  it  is  so  charming  to 
behold.  On  my  way  I  met  five  orphan  children 
of  an  old  friend.  Not  a  rag  to  their  backs.  That 
is,"  said  Mr.  Barncastle,  noting  a  look  of  incredulity 
on  the  Dabster  countenance,  "  not  a  rag,  to  speak 
of.  The  sight  was  too  much.  They  had  hardly 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  213 

had  a  glass  of  water  for  days.  I  said  to  myself, 
Mrs.  Dabster  would  not  hesitate,  why  should  I? 
Mrs.  Dabster  would  say,  '  Have  mercy,  Barncastle. 
on  the  unfortunate/  why  should  not  I  say  it? 

"  Mercy,"  said  Mr.  Barncastle,  striking  an  atti 
tude  and  quoting  Shakespeare  from  memory — • 

"  Mercy  droppeth  like  the  gentle  dew  from  heaven 
Upon  the  earth  beneath.     It  is  twice  blessed : 
It  blesses  him  that  gives  and  him  that  doth  receive. 

"I  gave  it.  All  I  had  I  gave  with  your  bene 
diction.  Their  pretty  eyes  filled  with  tears.  They 
cried  out:  'Heaven  bless  you  for  this  act,  Mr. 
Barncastle.'  I  cried  in  return :  '  Not  me,  it  is  not 
to  me,  innocent  babes,  that  you  are  indebted,  but 
to  that  tender-hearted  and  absolutely  unmatchable 
woman,  Mrs.  Dabster.'" 

Mrs.  D.  was  quite  affected  by  this  time,  and 
begun  wiping  her  eyes  with  the  corner  of  her 
apron. 

"Do  not  weep,"  said  Barncastle,  soothingly; 
"  they  are  happy  now.  They  are  blessed  in  receiv- 


214  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

ing;  you  in  giving.  But  alas,  my  friend,  where 
am  I?"  Here  Barncastle  heaved  a  prodigious 
sigh,  and  with  a  look  of  despair  began  walking  the 
floor.  "Yes,"  said  he,  halting  in  front  of -her;  "if 
it  is  not  asking  too  much  of  your  patience,  I  ask, 
where  am  I  ? " 

"Why,"  said  good'  Mrs.  Dabster,  innocently, 
"you  are  here  where  you  ought  to  be." 

Barncastle  took  another  turn  or  two  across  the 
room,  and  then  halting  again,  said  earnestly: 
"  Mrs.  Dabster,  why  are  men  born,  as  it  were,  in 
indigent  circumstances?  Why  are  we  created  to 
endure  the  pangs  of  poverty,  the  pains  of  unre 
quited  affection,  the  embarrassments  of  undis 
charged  obligations,  the  agony  of  disordered 
livers,  when  we  might  be  playing  leap-frog,  so  to 
speak,  in  infinite  space,  the  unfledged  denizens 
of  a  sphere  where  nobody  is  poor?  Why  am  I  not 
a  germ,"  said  Barncastle,  clasping  his  hands  and 
gazing  longingly  at  the  ceiling,  "a  germ  nestling 
in  the  bosom  of  the  universe,  instead  of  an  unfor 
tunate  fellow  being  of  yours  (here  his  eyes  rested 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  215 

on  the  form  of  Mrs.  Dabster)  in  want  of  a  beg 
garly  five  dollar  note?  Five  dollars,"  said  he, 
snapping  his  fingers  contemptuously.  "  Five  dol 
lars!  I  shall  have  a  remittance  to-morrow;  but 
for  the  want  of  a  little  five  dollars  to-day  I  lose  a 
hundred.  Think  of  that,  and  then  talk  of  misery! 
If  I  were  not  immersed,  as  it  were,  in  a  whirlpool 
of  debt  to  you,  I  would  ask  the  loan  of  a  V  until 
a  quarter  before  six  to-morrow  evening." 

Barncastle  watched  the  effect  of  this  announce 
ment  on  Mrs.  Dabster,  and  was  evidently  encour 
aged  to  proceed. 

"There!"  he  exclaimed,  "crushing  my  pride, 
trampling  my  sensitiveness  under  my  feet,  I  do 
ask  it  —  I  do,  Mrs.  Dabster." 

The  1  idy  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  with  a 
sort  of  anxious,  puzzled  expression  before  she 
replied.  Barncastle  stood  like  another  Essex, 
proudly  awaiting  his  doom. 

"You'd  be  certain  to  pay  it  back  to-morrow?" 
she  said,  doubtingly.  • 

"  Certain ! "  repeated  Barncastle,   looking  hurt 


216  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

at  the  faintest  doubt  of  the  possibility  of  his  fail 
ure.  "Madam!  you  do  not  know  me.  Absolutely 
certain,  Mrs.  Dabster,  absolutely." 

"  Because,"  said  that  lady,  apologetically,  "one 
as  tries  to  feed  government  clerks  and  fresh  mem 
bers  at  six  dollars  a  week,  including  lunches,  has 
all  she  can  possibly  do  to  keep  along,  Mr.  Barn- 
castle." 

"  Alas,  I  know  it,"  he  replied.  "  There's  the  one 
item  of  molasses.  As  I  have  watched  the  miracu 
lous  disappearance  of  that  saccharine  article,  my 
heart  has  overflowed  with  sympathy  for  you.  I 
have  wondered  how  you  endured  it.  I  have  asked 
myself  where  in  the  wide  world  all  this  molasses 
came  from.  Where  it  goes  to  is  plain  enough.  If 
there  is  one  weakness  worthy  of  study,  one  that 
merits  scientific  examination,  it  is  the  weakness 
among  government  clerks  for  molasses." 

"There!"  said  Mrs.  Dabster,  handing  him  the 
money.  "  I  hope  you  will  not  fail,  Mr.  Barncastle, 
knowing  my  circumstances." 

"Fail!"  exclaimed  Barncastle,  deftly   transfer- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  217 

ring  the  note  to  his  vest  pocket;  "if  you  were  as 
sure  of  a  husband,  such  as  you  deserve,  as  you  are 
of  this  five  dollars " 

"O,Mr.  Barncastle,"  interrupted  the  lady,  try 
ing  to  look  indignant,  "how  dare  you?" 

"Ah!"  continued  her  boarder,  noting  her  weak 
spot  and  chucking  her  under  the  chin.  "There 
are  days  of  bright  connubial  bliss  before  you  yet, 
Mrs.  Dabster.  Hoping  they  may  come  speedily 
and  remain  forever,  there!" — and  amazing  as  it 
may  seem,  Barncastle  absolutely  kissed  the  widow. 
Mrs.  Dabster  blushed  and  uttered  the  regulation 
scream,  and  was  about  to  scold  her  boarder  for 
taking  such  liberties,  when  the  door-bell  rang,  and 
she  glided  down  stairs.  In  a  moment  she  returned, 
and  informing  Mr.  Barncastle  that  a  gentleman 
wished  to  see  him,  ushered  into  his  presence  Rich 
ard  Hartwell. 


10 


218  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

IN    WHICH    PEGGY    APPEARS    IN    A    NEW    ROLE. 

We  leave  Barncastle  and  his  caller  for  a  short 
time  to  look  elsewhere. 

Seven  days  out  from  her  European  port  of 
departure,  a  Cunard  steamship  was  plowing  swiftly 
through  the  Atlantic,  her  prow  turned  toward  the 
New  World.  It  was  a  half  hour  after  sunset,  and 
a  hundred  passengers  were  gathered  on  deck 
enjoying  the  fresh  air  and  the  beautiful  scene.  At 
one  side  sat  a  party  of  three,  one  a  tall,  dark, 
elderly  lady,  stately  and  dignified,  and  yet  with  a 
wonderfully  kind  expression  in  her  face.  Another, 
a  young  man  very  stylish  and  handsome,  and  a 
third  a  young  lady,  lithe  and  graceful,  and  with 
dark  eyes  that  danced  with  merriment  now  and 
then,  but  bore  oftener  a  far-away  look  that  seemed 
to  wander  from  the  beautiful  evening  scene  to 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  219 

others,  perhaps  less  pleasant  though  more  fascin 
ating. 

"  I  wonder  how  far  your  thoughts  have  traveled 
in  the  last  five  minutes,  Miss  Cristopher,"  said 
the  young  man,  after  waiting  all  that  time  to  hear 
the  young  lady  speak. 

Miss  Cristopher  called  back  her  wandering 
gaze,  and  smiled  half-reproachfully  as  she  an 
swered  : 

"  Now,  it  really  has  not  been  five  minutes,  Mr. 
Bruce." 

"Nearer  ten,"  he  answered.  "I  appeal  to 
Madame  Benedict  if  it  has  not." 

The  stately  lady  smiled  and  confirmed  the 
young  man. 

"Well,  I  am  very  sorry,"  said  Miss  Cristopher, 
"but  the  evening  seems  designed  for  reflection." 

"But  not  sad  reflection,"  responded  the  young 
gentleman.  "Come,  now,  it  is  desecration  to  look 
sad  on  such  a  night/' 

"  I  hope  I  was  not  really  looking  disconsolate," 
said  the  young  lady. 


220  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Indeed  you  were,  absolutely  weary  of  life. 
Come,  now,  confess  where  your  thoughts  were 
running.  Was  it  back  to  the  old  land  or  forward 
to  the  new?" 

"Forward,"  said  she,  "that  much  I  will  tell  you. 
The  despair  which  you  saw  came  from  the  Repub 
lic,  which  is  just  ahead,  and  not  from  the  Kingdom 
which  we  have  left  behind,"  and  she  laughed  pleas 
antly. 

"  But  it  ought  to  be  a  happy  and  expectant 
look,"  continued  Mr.  Bruce,  the  name  of  the  young 
gentleman.  "  You,  above  all  others,  ought  to  be 
jubilant,  and  yet  you  are  moping  dreadfully." 

"Now,  shame,"  said  Miss  Cristopher;  "you 
know  I  have  been  excessively  animated  ever  since 
we  left  Liverpool.  If  you  do  not  stop  slandering 
me  in  such  a  way  I  shall  conceal  myself  like  the 
veiled  prophet,  and  you  shall  see  only  my  hand. 
That  won't  look  mournful,  I  am  sure." 

"It  will,"  replied  the  young  man,  "it  does 
already.  It  seems  to  be  tinged  by  your  eyes,  and 
looks  as  sad  as  your  face.  You  must  wear  gloves 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  221 

when  you  disguise  yourself,  or  I  shall  detect  your 
despair  just  as  easily  as  now." 

The  banter,  which  was  largely  in  earnest,  went 
on  for  some  time,  until  finally  the  two  ladies  went 
below. 

"  Margaret,"  said  the  elder,  addressing  the  girl, 
''what  are  you  going  to  do  with  Mr.  Bruce?" 

The  young  lady  threw  her  arms  about  the  neck 
of  Mrs.  Benedict,  and  said,  softly,  "I  do  not  know." 

"He  will  declare  himself,"  said  the  lady,  "  unless 
you  restrain  him." 

"I  think  so,"  said  Margaret.  "Indeed,!  fear 
so." 

"  He  is  a  young  man  of  excellent  family,"  con 
tinued  Mrs.  Benedict,  "  wealthy,  educated,  irre 
proachable." 

"Yes,"  answered  Margaret. 

"What  will  you  do  then,  my  dear?"  said  the 
former,  supporting  the  head  of  the  young  lady 
and  smoothing  her  brown  hair  tenderly. 

"I  do  not  wish  to  marry,"  said  Margaret. 

"Then  you  will  refuse  him?"  said  her  compan- 


222  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

ion.  "  My  dear,  have  you  ever  reflected  that  you 
are  declining  a  great  many  brilliant  offers?" 

"Yes,"  said  Margaret,  demurely;  "I  have 
thought  of  it." 

"And  resolved  to  do  no  better?"  pursued  Mrs. 
Benedict,  smiling,  half-reproachfully. 

"What  can  I  do?"  said  the  girl,  appealingly. 
"You  with  your  good  heart  and  wise  head,  tell 
me." 

"You  do  not  love  Mr.  Bruce?"  inquired  Mrs. 
Benedict. 

"Oh,  no!"  said  Margaret. 

"Not  even  a  little?" 

"  I  should  say  not  a  particle,"  replied  the  young 
lady,  frankly. 

"  He  is  a  man  that  most  women  would  greatly 
admire,"  said  her  companion. 

"Oh,  yes,"  responded  Miss  Cristopher,  ''and  I 
admire  him  and  respect  him." 

"  But  can  not  love  him?" 

"No." 

"That  old  affection  clings  to  you  yet,  driving 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  223 

out  all  others ;  I  see,  I  see,"  said  Mrs.  Benedict, 
sadly. 

"No,  not  that,"  replied  the  girl;  "all  that  is 
dead,  but,  someway,  nothing  comes  in  its 
place." 

"Well,  well,  my  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Benedict,  smil 
ing  ;  "  you  must  do  the  best  you  can,  and,  above 
all,  you  must  save  Mr.  Bruce  the  pain  of  a  refusal. 
Do  that  in  some  manner ;  your  own  heart  and 
good  sense  will  tell  you  how."  And  here  the  con 
versation  terminated. 

The  next  evening  Miss  Cristopher  and  Mr. 
Bruce  were  slowly  walking  back  and  forth  on  deck. 
Now  and  then  they  stopped  to  gaze  down  into  the 
waves  that  dashed  their  phosphorescent  light 
against  the  plunging  prow  of  the  vessel,  and 
again  at  the  starlit  heavens  that  sparkled  above 
them. 

"To-morrow,"  said  the  young  man,  "one  day 
more  and  this  trip  will  come  to  an  end." 

"  And  we  shall  be  there,"  said  Miss  Cristopher, 
beckoning  with  her  head  toward  the  great  Conti- 


224  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

nent.  "  At  home  once  more.  O !  how  nervous  I 
get  over  it." 

"And  you  are  glad,"  said  he.  "You  do  not  feel 
a  pang  at  terminating  the  voyage  ?  I  had  hoped 
you  would." 

"Oh,  you  mistake  me  there,"  responded  Miss 
Cristopher,  ashamed  of  her  thoughtlessness.  "Of 
course  I  shall  deeply  regret  parting  from  all  pur 
friends  on  the  ship." 

"And  may  I  hope  that  I  do  not  occupy  the 
least  place  among  them?"  said  he. 

"  Oh,  you  know  you  are  the  very  first,"  said 
Miss  Cristopher,  frankly.  "We  never  could  have 
done  at  all  without  you." 

She  was  sorry  a  moment  after  that  she  had 
been  so  outspoken,  for  the  young  man  grew  very 
serious,  and  finally,  taking  her  hand,  began  the 
long-feared  declaration.  The  young  lady  was 
frightened,  and  blamed  herself  for  it  all ;  but  she 
resolved  to  stop  him  at  every  hazard.  He  had 
barely  got  the  preliminary  sentence  out  of  his 
mouth  before  she  deliberately  put  both  her  hands 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  225 

over  that  organ  of  speech,  and  threatened  to  stifle 
him  if  he  said  another  word.  It  was  a  novel  way 
of  preventing  an  offer,  but  it  was  very  effective. 

"  Now  stop,"  said  she ;  "  you  mustn't,  and  that's 
the  end  of  it."* 

"  I  won't,"  said  he,  with  a  voice  that  sounded 
very  much  muffled  as  it  came  from  behind  the 
palm  that  had  been  placed  upon  his  mouth.  "  I 
won't,  if  you  will  keep  your  hands  just  where  they 
are  for  ever." 

"  But,  really,  now,"  pursued  the  young  lady, 
"you  must  say  no  more  upon  that  subject." 

"  How  do  you  know  what  I  was  going  to  say?" 
said  he. 

"Well,  I  have  a  premonition,"  she  answered. 

"You  are  used  to  it,"  he  said. 

"Shame  upon  you  for  that,"  returned  Miss  Cris- 
topher. 

"Well,  then,  you  are  engaged,"  said  the  young 
man. 

"  Please,  now,  do  not  allude  to  it  any  further," 
she  replied. 

10*  P 


226  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"I  will  not,  except  this,"  he  said.  "If  you  are 
not  engaged,  you  shall  say  no.  If  you  are,  remain 
silent.  Come,  now  that's  only  fair.  So  I  ask  the 
question,  'Are  you  engaged?'" 

Miss  Cristopher  saw  no  better  way  of  escap 
ing,  so  she  adopted  this  plan  and  said  nothing. 
Mr.  Bruce  thereupon  congratulated  her,  though 
sadly,  and  only  asked  that  they  might  continue 
to  meet  as  friends.  Then  there  were  good- 
nights,  and  the  young  lady  went  below.  Once 
there  she  fell  to  telling  her  stately  companion  of 
the  interview,  and  while  they  regretted  the  occur 
rence  and  sympathized  with  the  disappointed 
lover,  they  could  not  resist  laughing  over  the  odd 
means  employed  by  the  young  lady  to  prevent  a 
declaration. 

It  was  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning  when  the 
great  ship  with  her  decks  swarming  with  the 
aroused  passengers  slowly  made  her  way  through 
the  innumerable  water  craft  up  to  the  great  docks. 
The  latter  were  thronged  with  expectant  faces, 
eagerly  turned  upward  to  the  crowded  decks  of 


aht  the  Congressman.  227 

the  incoming  ship.  Close  by  the  railing  stood 
Mrs.  Benedict,  Miss  Cristopher,  and  Mr.  Bruce. 
The  young  lady's  eyes  were  anxiously  turned  on 
the  faces  looking  up  to  her.  All  at  once  she  gave 
a  glad  start,  and  waved  her  hand  and  handkerchief 
at  some  one^on  the  docks,  while  the  tears  sprung 
to  her  eyes.  At  the  same  moment  a  hat  went  up 
from  the  crowd,  and  the  person  that  she  had  recog 
nized  seemed  trying  to  clamber  over  everybody 
else  and  make  his  way  toward  the  gangway.  Cer 
tainly  at  a  distance  the  enthusiastic  individual 
looked  strangely  like  old  Mr.  Martin,  and — well — 
could  it  be  possible  —  was  the  young  lady  on  the 
great  ship,  with  her  mouth  all  smiles  and  her  eyes 
all  tears,  actually  Peggy  1 


228  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

PLOTS. 

"Mr.  Barncastle,  I  believe,"  said  Hartwell, 
advancing. 

Barncastle  did  not  know  the  young  man  before 
him,  but  it  occurred  to  him  at  once  that  it  must  be 
some  one  of  his  numerous  creditors.  He  knew  of 
no  one  else  who  would  be  likely  to  have  business 
with  him,  and  he  answered  accordingly. 

"Yes,  certainly;  by  the  way  this  is  a  most  un 
fortunate  thing,  Mr. ,  Mr.— 

"Hartwell,"  interrupted  the  young  man,  pre 
senting  a  card. 

"  Hartwell,"  repeated  Barncastle.  "As  I  was 
saying,  this  is  most  unfortunate.  Do  you  know 
that  not  an  hour  ago  I  was  chasing  for  you  up  and 
down,  in  and  out  the  hotels,  through  the  restau 
rants  and  clubs,  with  the  money  in  my  hand  to  pay 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  229 

you.  High  nor  low  —  nowhere  could  I  find  you, 
and  now,  not  five  minutes  ago,  I  lent  the  money, 
every  cent,  to  my  good  landlady  who  is  in  great 
trouble  —  lost  a  son  —  blowed  up  on  the  railroad 
—  all  that  sort  of  thing  —  horrible  affair  —  so  you 
see  I'm  down,  so  to  speak  —  flat." 

While  Barncastle  had  been  speaking,  Mr.  Hart- 
well  had  been  looking  at  him  puzzled  and  bewil 
dered,  not  knowing  what  he  was  driving  at. 

"  Come,"  said  Barncastle,  noting  what  he  thought 
a  disappointed  expression — "don't  let  it  trouble 
you.  It's  a  sure  thing,  you  know.  Just  name  the 
spot  you  will  be  in  at  eighteen  minutes  to  three 
to-morrow  afternoon,  and  all  you  will  have  to  do  is 
to  reach  out  your  hand  and  take  the  money.  Let 
me  see,  what  is  the  amount?" 

Hartwell,  who  began  to  see  the  point,  now 
interrupted.  "You  mistake,  Mr.  Barncastle,"  said 
he.  "You  certainly  do  not  owe  me  anything." 

"What!"  exclaimed  Barncastle,  "is  it  possible 
that  in  this  dim  light  I  have  been  misled  by  the 
facial  expression  and  the  similarity  of  names? 


230  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Why,  so  I  have.  My  dear  sir,  let  me  apologize," 
and  Barncastle  seized  the  hand  of  Hartwell  and 
wrung  it  with  great  fervor.  "I  took  you,"  he  con 
tinued,  "for  a  member,  an  old  friend  to  whom  I 
promised  a  subscription  for  the  orphan  asylum.  A 
thousand  pardons." 

"  Do  not  make  any  apologies,"  said  Hartwell. 
"I  came  here  on  a  little  business,  and  may  as  well 
get  at  it  at  once.  I  know  something-  of  your  in 
fluence  with  members  of  Congress,  Mr.  Barncastle, 
and  that,  frankly,  is  why  I  came." 

Barncastle  was  flattered,  as  Hartwell  intended 
he  should  be. 

"  My  dear  sir,"  said  Barncastle,  "  I  never  boast 
of  these  things.  They  are  matters  that  require 
reticence  and  diplomacy." 

"  Multiplication,  division,  and  silence,  eh,"  said 
Hartwell. 

"  My  dear  sir,  you  have  spoken  it,"  responded 
Barncastle. 

"You  seem  to  be  very  comfortable  here,"  said 
Hartwell,  looking  around  the  room. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  231 

"Neat,  neat,"  replied  Barncastle  ;  "but  by  no 
means  extravagant.  I  scorn  pomp,  Mr.  Hartwell. 
My  library,  not  large  but  select,  is  all  the  luxury 
that  I  indulge  in  ;  but  without  books,  without 
these  companions  of  my  quiet  hours,  life  would  be 
dreary  indeed." 

It  was  well  that  Mr.  Barncastle's  book-case  was 
closed,  otherwise  he  would  never  have  ventured  to 
speak  so  grandly  of  his  library.  The  fact  was  that 
the  ancient  case,  rickety  and  dingy,  contained  at 
that  moment  a  shaving-mug,  a  box  of  pills,  three  or 
four  half-empty  bottles  of  patent  medicines,  and  a 
variety  of  old  traps,  but  not  even  the  faintest  sign 
of  a  book  of  any  description.  His  enthusiasm  on 
the  subject  of  his  library  was  therefore  purely 
fictitious. 

Hartwell  glanced  at  the  book-case  as  if  he 
could  see  through  the  doors  the  treasures  within, 
and  then  turned  to  the  table. 

"What  have  you  here?  he  said,  pointing  to 
Barncastle's  model  for  a  monument. 

The  latter  threw  himself  back  with  an  air  of 


232  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

pride  as  he  answered.  "Ah,"  said  he,  "there  you 
touch  me,  Mr.  Hartwell.  Now  you  hit  upon  my 
weakness.  That,"  said  Mr.  Barncastle,  taking  the 
model  by  the  top  and  turning  it  round,  "is  the 
fruit  of — well,  you  may  call  it  eccentricity,  if  you 
will.  Who  knows  a  man  so  well  as  himself;  who 
knows  the  secrets  of  his  heart,  the  purity  of  his 
intentions,  the  loftiness  of  his  aspirations,  as  he 
knows  them?  You  answer,  nobody!  So  say  I. 
If,  then,  a  man  be  honest,  none  can  tell  so  well  as 
he  what  he  deserves  of  his  country.  I  feel  here, 
for  instance,  a  heart  throbbing  with  compassion.  I 
have  here  a  brain  bursting  with  patriotic  fire.  I 
have  here  a  form  ready  to  be  sacrificed  on  the  altar 
of  liberty.  What,  then,  do  I  do?  I  design  with 
the  utmost  impartiality  a  monument  for  posterity. 
It  will  be  a  flat  shaft,  one  hundred  feet  in  height. 
On  one  side  will  be  a  phcenix  rising  from  its  ashes, 
typical  of  what  may  be  expected  of  Ebenezer 
Barncastle.  On  the  reverse,  the  inscription  you 
see  here  in  German  text : 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  233 

TO   THE   MEMORY   OF 

EBENEZER    BARNCASTLE,    F.  R.  S., 

A    POLITICAL   PHILOSOPHER, 

WHOSE   EXTENSIVE   KNOWLEDGE   OF    CURRENT   EVENTS    WAS  ONLY 

EQUALED    BY   HIS    SURPASSING    FACULTY   OF 

MASSING   FACTS   AND    FIGURES 

FOR   THE 
BENEFIT   OF   HIS   COUNTRYMEN. 

AN   ADEPT   AT   THE  TARIFF,  AT  HOME   ON  THE   FINANCES, 
HE  LIVED  TO  ADORN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY, 

AND  DIED  REGRETTED  BY  A  MOURNING  WORLD. 

HIS   MOTTO   HE  TRANSMITS  TO   HIS  DESCENDANTS, 
"  ORGANIZE." 

For  a  while  Mr.  Hartwell  stared  at  this  epi 
taph,  lost  in  amazement.  The  curious  thing 
about  the  matter  was  the  utter  seriousness  with 
which  Barncastle  regarded  it.  He  did  not  seem  to 
see  the  least  impropriety  in  the  idea,  but  to  look 
upon  it  as  a  great  discover^  he  had  wrought  and 
was  soon  to  bestow  upon  a  suffering  world,  no 
matter  how  ungrateful  that  world  might  be.  It 
was  some  time  before  Hartwell  could  overcome  his 
astonishment  and  enter  upon  the  real  object  of  his 
visit.  Finally  he  composed  himself,  and  began  : 


234  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"You  know  the  Hon.  Zachariah  Martin?"  he 
said,  at  length. 

"Know  him!"  responded  Barncastle;  "inti 
mately.  Indebted  to  me  for  his  position,  for  the 
clothes  on  his  back,  for  the  money  in  his  pocket ; 
borrows  of  me  —  this  is  confidential,  of  course?" 

"  Certainly." 

"  Borrows  of  me  largely.  Too  largely,  I  fear ; 
still,  Zach.  is  a  very  clever  young  man,  and  I  can 
not  be  hard  upon  him." 

"  Then  you  are  the  very  man  I  have  been 
looking  for,"  responded  Hartwell.  "  To  come 
right  down  to  business,  we  want  to  get  a  favor  of 
Martin." 

"  I  see." 

"  We  want  him  to  do  us  a  favor,  and  we  are 
ready  to  pay  for  it." 

"  Exactly." 

"  In  this  package,"  pursued  Hartwell,  taking 
out  a  large  envelope,  "  is  a  letter  addressed  to  him 
by  a  friend  of  his,  a  lady,  asking  the  favor  alluded 
to.  In  this  other  package  are  five  thousand 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  235 

dollars  of  bonds  in  the  Nantucket  Insurance  Com 
pany.  We  propose  to  give  him  these  bonds  for 
doing  our  work;  but  of  course  this  is  not  to  be  inti 
mated  by  the  person  presenting  the  package." 

"Of  course  not,"  echoed  Barncastle. 

14  We  want  him  to  get  these  bonds  through  one 
who  can  testify  to  the  fact  should  Mr.  Martin 
desire,  for  any  reason,  to  play  us  falsely  hereafter. 
Now,  Mr.  Barncastle,  we  have  thought  you  the 
man  to  hand  them  to  him.  For  doing  this,  a  very 
great  favor  to  us,  we  will  pay  you  one  hundred 
dollars  now  and  one  hundred  dollars  more  when 
you  testify  to  that  fact,  if  such  time  ever  arrives. 
You  can  say  that  the  package  was  sent  to  him  by 
the  lady  who  sent  the  note,  with  a  request  that  he 
retain  them  for  her.  The  rest  he  will  understand. 
Now,  Mr.  Barncastle,  what  do  you  say?  " 

"  My  dear  sir,"  responded  the  latter,  "  consider 
it  done  —  for  a  friend.  He  can  refuse  me  nothing. 
He's  too  deep  in,  you  see,  too  deep  in,"  and  Barn 
castle  put  his  finger  to  his  nose  significantly. 

44 1  see,"  said  Hartwell. 


236  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  Money  is  nothing  to  me "  continued  Barn- 
castle.  "  Consider  it  done,  as  I  said  before,  for  a 
friend." 

Hartwell  was  puzzled  at  this.  He  had  esti 
mated  Barncastle  pretty  fairly,  and  besides  he  had 
heard  enough  of  him  to  know  that  he  was  a  very 
impecunious  old  vagabond,  and  yet  here  he 
was  declining  money  for  his  services.  Without 
attempting  to  fathom  the  mystery,  and  glad  to 
save  the  one  hundred  dollars  if  he  could  accom 
plish  his  object  as  well,  he  rose  to  go.  He  shook 
Barncastle  warmly  by  the  hand.  He  had  reached 
the  door  and  was  about  turning  the  knob  when 
a  thought  seemed  to  strike  the  latter. 

"One  moment,"  said  Mr.  Barncastle;  "I  am 
not  ordinarily  in  this  business.  My  sphere  is  gen 
erally  broader  and  my  terms  higher.  Money,  as  I 
said  before,  is  no  object  to  me  but — as  a  —  a 
guaranty  —  of — good  faith,  you  know,  hey?"  And 
Barncastle  smiled  his  blandest.  Hartwell  smiled 
also,  showing  his  white  teeth,  but  his  smile  was 
not  so  genial  as  that  of  Barncastle. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  237 

"  Oh,  of  course,"  said  he.  "  I  shall  gladly  pay 
you.  I  only  thought  — " 

"  Not  that,"  said  Barncastle,  moving  the  palm  of 
his  hand  deprecatingly.  "  It  is  not  the  money,  you 
know,  but  —  but  the — indefinable — pledge  of  sin 
cerity,  you  know  —  between  —  ah — gentlemen,  as 
it  were.  Hay,  right  ?  " 

"Exactly,"  said  Hartwell,  and  without  further 
ado  he  placed  one  hundred  dollars  in  Mr.  Barn- 
castle's  extended  hand. 

"  I  will  call  to  hear  the  result,"  said  he,  and  once 
more  moved  toward  the  door.  With  many  a 
wave  of  the  hand  Barncastle  bowed  his  visitor 
out,  not  satisfied  until  the  outer  door  had  closed 
upon  him.  Then  he  returned  to  his  room,  with  an 
expression  of  wonderful  exultation  on  his  face. 

He  held  the  money  and  the  bonds  in  his  hand 
and  gazed  at  them.  "What's  their  game?"  said  he, 
musingly.  "  A  letter,  too  ;  a  mysterious  letter.  I 
ought  to  know,  as  the  confidential  agent  of  these 
parties,  what  said  letter  contains.  I  will  know.  It's 
unprofessional,  but  prudent,"  and  with  that  Barn- 


238  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

castle   broke    the    seal    and    read   the    following 
note: 

DEAR  MR.  MARTIN:  I  want  the  young  man  of  whom  I 
spoke  appointed  sure  —  to  some  good  place  in  the  revenue 
service.  You  said  any  thing  in  your  keeping  was  at  my  dis 
posal.  All  I  have  to  offer  in  return  I  give.  Is  the  considera 
tion  sufficient  ?  Reply  by  the  bearer.  Your  loving 

BELLE. 

Barncastle  folded  the  letter  thoughtfully. 

"His  loving  Belle,"  he  echoed.  "This  ought 
to  be  sufficient  without  the  bonds.  I  wonder  if  it 
wouldn't  be.  Five  thousand  dollars  !  "  Barncastle 
was  gazing  thoughtfully  at  the  papers  when  there 
was  a  knock  at  the  door.  "  Come  in,"  said  he, 
turning  his  face  to  the  entrance  and  putting  his 
bonds  behind  him.  At  his  summons  Mrs.  Dabster 
entered.  Barncastle  looked  at  her  majestically. 
"Come  here,"  he  exclaimed,  and  Mrs.  Dabster 
approached. 

"I  owe  you  divers  sums,"  said  he,  loftily;  "I 
know  nothing  about  the  total.  How  much  is  it?" 

Mrs.  Dabster  was  astonished,  but  she  quickly 
gave  him  the  amount 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  239 

'  Here's  ten  dollars,"  said  Barncastle,  handing 
her  a  bill.  "  Of  the  balance  we  will  speak  at 
another  time." 

•'  Now,  look  here,"  he  continued,  and  he  opened 
the  rich-looking  bonds  and  exhibited  them  to  her 
astounded  vision,  holding  them  at  a  safe  distance. 

"Oh!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Dabster,  "what  are 
they?" 

"  Governments,"  said  Barncastle.  "  Govern 
ment  bonds  bearing  six  per  cent,  in  gold,  payable 
semi-annually.  Every  dollar  of  'em  worth  a  dollar 
and  twenty  cents." 

"My  gracious!"  returned  Mrs.  Dabster.  "  How 
many  of  them  are  there?" 

"Thousands,  millions  perhaps,"  said  Barn 
castle.  "Don't  touch  them.  Ah  ha!  it  scorches 
your  boarding-house  eyelids  to  look  at  'em,  don't 
it?" 

"  Please  don't  speak  to  me  that  way,"  pleaded 
the  landlady. 

"  Speak  that  way  ?  I'll  speak  any  way.  I 
owe  you  money,  you"  said  Barncastle.  "Why 


240  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

then  take  it  and  leave  me. !  Ha,  ha,  begone, 
woman  ! " 

"Oh,  I  would  rather  you  would  never  pay  me 
than  to  talk  so  to  me,"  said  she,  whimpering. 

"  Talk,"  said  he.  "  Here,  by  the  soul  of  Napo 
leon,  I'll  act  as  well  as  talk.  What's  your  wheezy 
furniture  worth;  make  out  your  bill  and  consider 
it  smashed." 

"Don't,"  begged  Mrs.  Dabster,  as  Barncastle 
tipped  over  a  chair.  "  Don't  please,  kind,  good 
Mr.  Barncastle.  Oh,  dear,  I  believe  you've  gone 
mad.  I'm  going  to  faint,  I  am — I  am — " 

"  Well,  faint,"  said  he,  "  and  thank  your  stars 
that  you  can  fall  into  the  arms  of  a  Barncastle." 

Mrs.  Dabster  would  have  carried  her  threat 
into  execution,  but  suddenly  a  thought  seemed  to 
strike  her  boarder,  and  jamming  his  hat  on  his 
head  he  rushed  out  into  the  street. 


Zackariah)  the  Congressman.  241 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

IN     WHICH      CLOUDS     APPEAR     ON     ZACHARIAH      MAR- 

TIN'S  HORIZON. 

It  was  quite  early  in  the  Spring,  and  Congress 
was  still  in  session,  when  there  appeared  in  the 
Hiltonville  "  Banner  "  the  following  notice. 

INDIGNATION  MEETING! 


CITIZENS,    ATTEND. 


All  citizens,  without  regard  to  party,  are  requested 
to  meet  at  the  Court  House  this  evening  to  ex 
press  their  indignation  at  the  course  of  our 
Representative  in  Congress.  Those  who  wish  to 
frown  down  the  notorious  attempt  of  our  mem 
ber  to  peddle  official  patronage  and  sell  the 
people's  offices  to  the  highest  bidder  are  earn 
estly  requested  to  attend. 

This  notice  was  unsigned,  but  it  originated  with 
Spiker,  who  was  actuated  quite  as  much  by  per- 

II  Q 


242  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

sonal  spite,  it  may  well  be  supposed,  as  by  anxiety 
for  the  purity  of  the  public  morals,  During  the  day 
a  number  of  gentlemen  who  had  reasons  more  or 
less  important  for  giving  Zach.  a  blow  were  busy 
drumming  up  an  audience.  It  was  queer  under 
what  curious  and  diverse  influences  they  worked. 
Of  course  Spiker  wanted  revenge.  So  did  five 
candidates  for  postmaster,  whose  claims  had  been 
disregarded  in  favor  of  the  sixth  appointee.  So 
did  several  unsuccessful  applicants  for  other  places 
who  were  sure  they  failed  to  receive  certain  offices 
in  Zach.'s  gift  because  he  was  either  an  idiot,  a 
corruptionist,  or  was  unmindful  of  his  duty.  The 
ranks  of  these  were  augmented  by  a  dozen  people 
who  personally  disliked  the  young  man.  One 
thought  him  proud.  Another  many  years  previ 
ously  had  had  a  disagreement  with  his  father. 
Another  had  always  said  he  was  not  the  right  man 
for  Congress,  and  still  another  was  jealous  of 
Zach.,  and  always  had  been,  and  was  ready  to  fly 
at  anything  as  an  excuse  for  denouncing  him. 

A    man    had   better   be   a   digger   and  delver 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  243 

among  men  than  to  struggle  an  inch  only  above 
those  who  have  always  known  him.  He  must 
reach  an  ell,  rise  clear  and  unmistakably  above 
them,  or  his  life  is  that  of  a  slave  and  a  martyr 
combined. 

Of  course  joined  to  all  these  we  have  named 
were  the  political  enemies  of  Martin,  the  "  men 
on  the  other  side,"  who  always  esteem  it  the 
first  duty  they  owe  the  country  to  cry  down 
every  one  and  everything  having  any  connec 
tion  with  the  opposing  party.  These  came  out 
with  a  relish.  Then  there  was  a  class  of  staid 
citizens  who  rarely  took  much  part  in  active  poli 
tics,  whose  presence  it  was  deemed  necessary  to 
secure.  This  was  done  to  a  degree  through  per 
sonal  solicitation,  by  appeals  to  them  to  turn  their 
faces  against  alleged  corruption,  and  by  that  flat 
tery  which  old  stagers  know  so  well  how  to  use 
when  occasion  requires.  The  result  was  that  there 
was  really  a  formidable  gathering,  representing  to 
a  great  extent  the  best  element  of  Hiltonville  and 

o 

the  surrounding  country.     By  what  seemed  a  spon- 


244  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

taneous  movement  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
respectable  merchants  of  the  town  was  chosen  to 
preside.  The  truth  was  that  he  had  been  visited 
the  day  before  and  urged  to  attend,  being  informed 
that  he  would  be  chosen.  He  was  flattered  to  be 
deemed  the  one  man  most  fit  to  grace  the  seat  of 
the  president  of  such  a  gathering,  and  finally  con 
sented.  When,  therefore,  a  voice  in  the  audience 
called  the  assemblage  to  order,  and  nominated 
Madison  Goldstone  for  chairman,  a  loud  aye  went 
up  from  the  meeting,  which  really  seemed  aston 
ished  when  that  gentleman  came  promptly  forward 
and  took  the  chair. 

Mr.  Goldstone,  prior  to  being  waited  upon  as 
aforesaid,  had  heard  little  and  cared  less  about 
Zach/s  alleged  shortcomings ;  but  suddenly  he  was 
filled  with  the  deepest  concern  for  the  country  and 
the  honor  of  her  public  servants.  This  was  com 
mendable,  but  abrupt.  However,  he  made  an 
excellent  speech,  pointing  out  the  absolute  neces 
sity  of  integrity  and  exalted  virtue  in  public  life, 
and  sat  down  amid  loud  applause.  Another 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  245 

prominent  citizen,  who  had  been  spoken  to  in  like 
manner,  was  called  upon,  and  made  a  similar 
speech.  Seeing  such  men,,  persons  unaccustomed 
to  "  meddling  with  politics,"  active  and  interested, 
the  lesser  lights  sprang  up,  and  the  meeting  really 
waxed  indignant.  One  gentleman  explained  the 
nature  of  the  charges  against  Zach.,  and  the  proof. 
The  principal  one  was  that  he  had  secured  the 
appointment  of  a  non-resident  of  the  district  in  a 
manner  that  smacked  strongly  of  bribery.  A 
committee  on  resolutions  was  appointed,  and  re 
tired  to  an  ante-room.  Here  the  chairman,  who 
had  been  selected  days  beforehand,  and  had  been 
furnished  with  a  set  of  resolutions  ready  made 
from  the  hands  of  the  editor  of  the  Hilton ville 
"  Banner,"  drew  those  resolutions  from  his  pocket 
and  submitted  them  to  the  committee.  One  act 
ive  member  moved  to  strike  out  "a"  in  the  second 
line  of  the  fourth  resolution  and  substitute  "  the," 
which  motion  was  carried.  Another  suggested 
that  "reported"  charges  would  be  better  than 
"alleged"  charges,  but  after  considerable  debate 


246  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

the  sentence  was  allowed  to  remain  as  it  was. 
After  much  discussion,  but  no  more  changes,  the 
committee  returned,  looking  like  a  jury  in  whose 
hands  hung  life  or  death,  and  marched  solemnly 
into  the  assemblage.  Their  appearance  was  greet 
ed  with  applause.  Each  resolution,  as  it  was  read, 
was  greeted  with  more  applause,  and  the  full  set 
was  adopted  with  a  loud  aye.  It  is  needless  to 
recount  them.  They  were  like  the  resolutions  of 
every  other  like  meeting,  very  long,  very  heavy, 
and  very  unjust.  But  the  object  was  accomplished. 
The  next  issue  of  the  "  Banner"  had  a  full  account 
of  the  gathering,  with  the  proceedings  and  resolu 
tions  in  full.  It  gave  the  names  of  the  officers, 
speakers,  and  prominent  persons  present,  and  sin 
gularly  enough  scarcely  one  of  the  real  instigators 
and  manipulators  of  the  affair  was  mentioned. 
The  meeting  appeared  to  be  a  spontaneous  assem 
blage  of  indignant  citizens  who,  scandalized  and 
outraged,  had  at  last  aroused  from  their  lethargy 
and  asserted  their  rights.  It  was  a  great  success. 
Zach.  had  been  warned  of  these  impending 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  247 

troubles.  He  had  been  told  that  if  he  expected 
to  secure  a  renomination  he  must  send  explana 
tions  of  his  conduct,  and  must  prepare  himself  for 
a  furious  fight.  But  to  all  these  warnings  he 
turned  a  deaf  ear.  To  explain  the  appointment 
which  he  had  made  at  the  request  of  Belle,  would 
be  embarrassing.  To  pursue  and  fight  down  every 
other  slander  that  was  put  in  circulation  against 
him  required  too  much  time  and  patience,  and  he 
resolved  to  let  matters  take  their  course.  "  I  have 
lived  among  these  people  for  nearly  thirty  years," 
he  wrote.  "If,  without  proof,  they  can  believe  me 
guilty  of  such  crimes  as  they  charge  upon  me,  I 
shall  not  attempt  to  undeceive  them.  It  simply 

shows  for  how  little  an  honest  life  counts,  after  all." 
******** 

Bobbin  never  would  have  believed  it  cost  so 
much  to  live  in  Washington.  His  family  were 
with  him  now,  and  he  occupied  a  very  pleasant 
little  house  on  "  O  "  street,  "  Northwest."  The  old 
neighbors  of  Mrs.  Bobbin  would  never  have  rec 
ognized  in  the  rather  trim  and  neat  appearing  mis- 


248  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

tress  of  that  little  house  their  old  acquaintance  at 
Martin's  Corners.  The  playmates  of  the  younger 
Bobbins  would  have  been  overwhelmed  by  the 
appearance  of  these  youthful  aristocrats  now,  in 
their  starched  pinafores  and  their  top  boots.  It 
was  Mrs.  Bobbin's  darling  dream  to  put  Johnnie 
into  a  blue  suit  with  dazzling  brass  buttons,  set 
off  by  a  cap  with  gold  lace  around  the  brim ;  but 
do  what  she  would,  and  "skimp  "  as  much  as  she 
might,  she  could  never  reach  the  fruition  of  that 
lofty  hope.  The  fact  of  it  was  Bobbin's  purse 
was  always  empty  long  before  pay-day,  and  his 
debts  were  still  accumulating.  Every  month  left 
a  little  larger  balance  at  the  butcher's  and  the 
grocer's,  and  he  saw  only  one  hope  of  getting 
even,  to  wit:  promotion  —  that  dream  of  the 
government  clerk.  When  Mrs.  Bobbin  came  on 
with  the  family  she  brought  with  her  five  hundred 
dollars,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  her  little  home 
at  Martin's  Corners.  She  felt  almost  a  million 
aire,  and  seriously  thought  of  buying  a  home  in 
Washington  suited  to  her  advanced  condition  in 


Zackariak,  the  Congressman.  249 

life.  But  when  she  arrived  in  that  city  she  found 
she  could  hardly  do  this.  The  little  bit  of  furniture 
she  brought  with  her  seemed  very  shabby  and  out 
of  place  in  her  new  house,  and  before  she  had  the 
rooms  arranged  to  her  fancy  she  had  expended 
her  five  hundred  dollars  and  had  a  pretty  little 
balance  still  to  pay  at  the  furniture  store.  And 
so,  though  the  good  woman  would  never  have 
believed  it  possible  that  she  could  be  anything  but 
content  in  such  a  house  and  with  such  surround 
ings,  she  really  found  herself  very  unhappy  and 
very  envious,  and  very  impatient  with  poor  little 
Bobbin,  who,  in  spite  of  all,  maintained  his  cheer 
fulness,  and  was  immensely  pleased  and  compara 
tively  happy. 

Mrs.  Bobbin  kept  a  servant,  too.  Gracious  ! 
how  the  people  at  home  would  have  stared  at 
that.  This  servant  was  nothing  to  speak  of;  that 
is,  she  was  very  little  and  very  cheap ;  but  then 
she  had  a  prodigious  appetite,  and  as  provisions 
were  dear  the  Bobbins  found  her  a  rather  expen 
sive  luxury.  But  Mrs.  Bobbin  got  the  most  out 
ii* 


250  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

of  her  —  not  so  much  in  work  as  in  appearance. 
If  anybody  called,  that  lady  would  under  no  cir 
cumstances  consent  that  any  of  the  family  should 
go  to  the  door.  Angelica  —  for  this  was  the  small 
servant's  name  —  was  called  upon  for  such  duty. 
She  was  not  exactly  adapted  to  this  service,  for 
she  always  presented  a  sort  of  wet  appearance,  as 
if  she  had  just  been  washed  but  not  wiped,  and  as 
she  opened  the  door  she  would  invariably  look 
straight  past  the  visitor  at  the  crowds  of  children 
gamboling  in  the  streets.  When  the  sight  was 
particularly  animating,  Angelica  would  give  a 
bound  or  two  on  her  own  account,  much  like  a 
high-fed  carriage  horse  excited  by  the  antics  of  a 
drove  of  colts  in  a  neighboring  field.  After 
prancing  awhile  in  this  manner,  she  could  be 
brought  by  degrees  to  comprehend  the  questions 
of  the  caller,  and  after  a  time  generally  managed 
to  answer  them.  To  Bobbin,  Angelica  was  one  of 
the  enigmas  of  the  universe.  Whenever  she  was 
present  he  seemed  lost  in  the  contemplation  of 
her.  She  had  a  queer  way  of  always  addressing 


Zachariak,  the  Congressman.  251 

her  master  as  Afester,  with  a  spiteful  explosion 
on  the  first  syllable  that  sounded  a  good  deal  like 
pulling  the  cork  out  of  a  bottle  of  pop.  At  first 
the  little  man  did  not  like  this.  It  startled  him, 
and  some  way  made  him  feel  as  though  he  was 
being  called  into  court  by  a  bailiff.  But  gradually 
he  became  reconciled. 

"She's  an  orphan,  poor  thing,"  said  he,  "  and  if 
she  gets  a  minute's  happiness  from  firirig  my  name 
off  in  that  style,  why  let  her  do  it.  Though,  to 
tell  the  truth,"  he  added  in  an  undertone  to  one  of 
the  children,  ""it  is  unpleasant,  that's  a  fact/' 


252  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


.  CHAPTER  XVII. 

BARNCASTLE      AGAIN. 

It  was  the  last  month  of  Spring,  and  Zach. 
was  waiting  to  know  the  result  of  the  convention 
in  his  district  which  was  to  nominate  a  candidate 
for  his  place.  He  was  pretty  confident  that  his 
friends  would  carry  him  through,  but  he  was  anx 
ious  and  uncomfortable.  It  was  arranged  that  his 
marriage  with  Belle  should  take  place  in  July, 
though  no  public  announcement  had  been  made  of 
the  fact.  Through  his  father,  Zach.  had  heard 
three  or  four  times  from  Peggy,  but  only  to  the 
effect  that  she  was  getting  along  comfortably.  All 
his  efforts  to  learn  her  whereabouts  failed,  for  if 
his  father  knew  he  would  not  tell.  Many  a  time 
Zach.,  wearied  with  care  and  disappointment,  felt 
as  if  he  would  fly  to  Peggy  if  he  only  knew  where 
she  was,  and  give  up  all — even  Belle — for  a  little 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  253 

of  the  old-time  peace  and  affection.  But  this  was 
not  to  be,  and  when  his  low  spirits  would  depart, 
and  he  would  see  Belle,  radiant  and  beautiful, 
admired  and  courted,  he  turned  to  her,  for  the 
time  being,  content  again. 

It  was  a  very  bright  morning  in  the  latter  part 
of  May,  and  Zach.  was  seated  in  his  room  at  the 
Arlington  looking  over  his  newspaper  mail.  He 
opened  the  Hiltonville  "Banner,"  and  in  great, 
black  head-lines  on  the  first  page  saw  the  follow 
ing: 

OUR   MISREPRESENTATIVE. 


A    CHEAT    AND    A    SNEAK. —  HE    IS    AFTER    SPOILS. 


The  Janus-faced  upstart  who  misrepresents  this  district 
in  Congress  is  again  called  upon  to  explain.  Let  him  answer 
if  he  dare  the  following  plain  inquiries : 

Who  voted  millions  of  the  people's  money  away  in  that 
stupendous  swindle,  the  deepening  of  Duck  Creek. 

Who  put  through  the  outrageous  private  land  swindle  of 
Peter  McDoosen,  by  which  $300,000  of  the  public  funds  were 
worse  than  squandered  ? 

Who  was  BRIBED  to  secure  the  appointment  of  an  entire 
stranger  and  non-resident  in  the  revenue  service  of  this  dis 
trict  ? 


254  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Who  was  drunk  on  last  Thanksgiving-day  in  Washington, 
and  was  carried  home  in  a  scavenger's  cart  by  the  police? 
Let  the  sovereign  people  rise  and  demand  an  answer 

Zach.  read  all  this  and  much  more  with  a 
flushed  and  angry  face.  "And  this,"  he  said  to 
himself,  "  is  the  reward  of  patient  and  honest 
labor.  Will  the  people  credit  such  slanders  ?  Can 
they  be  so  unjust  to  one  who  has  served  them 
faithfully?  Ah,  well,  we  shall  see." 

He  put  down  the  "  Banner "  and  took  up  a 
Washington  newspaper.  He  glanced  carelessly 
over  the  columns  until  his  eye  finally  lighted  upon 
the  following  paragraph  : 

The  great  portrait  of  the  late  President,  by  Miss  Mar 
garet  Cristopher,  which  the  government  has  purchased  at  a 
high  figure,  and  which  has  been  so  warmly  praised  by  Euro 
pean  critics,  will  be  exhibited  to  a  few  invited  guests  at  the 
Arlington  House  parlors,  this  evening  at  8  o'clock.  There  is 
much  curiosity  manifested  so  see  a  lady  who  has  suddenly 
dawned  on  the  world  of  art  like  a  meteor,  and  when  we  say 
she  is  young  and  beautiful,  as  well  as  rich  and  famous,  this 
interest  will  certainly  not  be  decreased. 

"Humph!"    said   Zach.    "I   remember  that   I 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  255 

\ 
promised    Belle   to    attend.      They   are   certainly 

making  a  great  deal  of  ado  over  this  artist." 

Zach.  fell  to  reflecting  again,  when  he  was 
roused  by  a  knock.  In  response  to  his  summons 
to  enter,  the  door  opened  and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Barn- 
castle  appeared.  Zach.  looked  up  but  turned 
away  with  impatience,  and  taking  up  a  newspaper 
buried  himself  in  the  telegraphic  dispatches.  Mr. 
Barncastle  entered,  removed  his  hat  with  the  grace 
of  a  Chesterfield,  and,  looking  about  him  with  a 
smile,  proceeded  to  pull  off  his  brown  cotton 
gloves. 

"  Mr.  Martin,"  said  he  gaily,  looking  about  the 
room,  "  Here  you  are,  cradled,  as  it  were,  in  the 
lap  of  luxury.  Fine  hotel,  elegant  appointments, 
matchless  cuisine.  Humph,  gad!  what  do  they 
charge  you  here  by  the  month?  Lucky  dog,  lucky 
dog.  There's  nothing  like  genius,  especially  when 
united  to  wealth.  Martin,"  continued  Barn- 
castle,  taking  a  seat  with  great  freedom,  "  I  am 
very  glad  to  see  you.  I  want  to  have  a  confi 
dential  talk  with  you.  Do  you  know,"  here  Barn- 


256  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

castle  drew  his  seat  nearer  and  spoke  slowly  and 
impressively,  "it's  my  opinion  that  the  country  is 
going  straight  to  the  devil  in  a  coach  and  six. 
Hey?" 

Zach.  still  remained  buried  in  his  newspaper, 
and  Barncastle  went  on  : 

"You  do  not  answer,"  said  he.  "Ah,  well, 
public  men  do  not  like  to  express  opinions,  but 
they  feel  for  the  country  as  we  feel  for  it ,  their 
hearts  are  wrung,  as  ours  are  wrung;  they  see  the 
danger  as  we  see  it.  Mister  Martin" — here  Barn- 
castle  grew  earnest  and  vehement — "how  shall 
the  honest  men  of  this  country  save  the  republic  ?" 

Barncastle  dropped  his  chin  deep  down  in  his 
shirt-collar  and  looked  out  from  under  his  eye 
brows  at  Zach.  as  he  asked  this  question. 

"How  shall  they  save  it?  There  is  but  one 
way,  organize!  bring  out  the  voters!  watch  the 
polls !  Let  every  man  devote  one  day  to  the 
service  of  his  country.  Organize  the  wards,  the 
townships,  the  counties.  Rouse  the  people  to 
action.  Appoint  committees,  form  clubs;  bring  in 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  257 

the  sick,  the  halt,  the  lame,  the  blind,  the  indigent; 
spur  up  the  indifferent,  labor  with  the  hesitating, 
cleave  to  the  irresolute,  stiffen  up  the  backbone  of 
the  workers,  and  give  the  men  of  sediment  a 
chance  at  glory.  By  action,  ceaseless  united 
action,  this  fabric  of  ours  may  yet  be  preserved. 
You  understand  me,  hey?  Right !" 

Zach.  was  growing  intensely  disgusted. 

"  Barncastle,"  said  he,  finally,  "  I  wish  you 
wouldn't  bother  me." 

"What!"  exclaimed  that  patriot,  drawing  back 
with  astonishment.  ''Are  you,  too,  lukewarm  in 
the  cause?  " 

"  Oh,  you  are  such  a  prodigious  fraud  ! "  said 
Zach.,  gazing  wearily  at  him. 

Barncastle  drew  back  again  with  offended 
dignity. 

"Mr.  Martin,"  said  he,  "I  am  your  debtor.  I 
am,  sir;  I  admit  it.  I  have  had  the  sum  about 
me  a  dozen  times  within  the  past  twenty-four 
hours,  but,  unfortunately,  at  such  times  I  was 

unable   to    discover   you.     It's    annoying,  but  it's 
R 


258  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

perfectly  true,  and  might  happen  to  any  one. 
Now,  when  I  have  parted  with  the  money,  I 
stumble  upon  you.  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to 
name  a  place  where  you  will  be  at  fifteen  minutes 
before  two  to-morrow  afternoon?  If  you  will,  sir, 
we  will  cancel  this  claim." 

Mr.  Barncastle  said  this  with  great  dignity, 
and  drew  his  coat  about  him  with  an  air  of  injured 
innocence, 

"  Again,"  said  Zach.  as  if  speaking  to  himself, 
"for  the  five  hundredth  time  the  man  comes  to  lie 
to  me  about  that  money." 

"  I  will  not,"  said  Mr.  Barncastle,  "presume  to 
lecture  you  on  your  duty  at  such  a  time.  I  will 
not  enlarge  on  the  impropriety,  I  might  say, 
cruelty,  of  permitting  the  public  good  to  yield  to 
private  greed.  But  I  will  say,  Mr.  Martin,  that 
it  is  your  duty  to  look  loftier.  Drown  sordid 
Thought  in  the  butt  of  patriotism,  and  rise  to  the 
level  of  a  statesman." 

Barncastle's  face  glowed  with  such  exaltation 
as  he  said  this  that  Zach.  was  fairly  lost  in  wonder, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  259 

but  his  indignation  soon  revived.  Turning-  round 
and  facing  that  eminent  man,  Zach.  thus  addressed 
him : 

"When  1  first  came  to  Washington  you  took 
me  in.  You  swindled  me;  you  humbugged  me; 
You  got  fifty  dollars  for  doing  it,  and  I  am 
willing  to  pay  you  that  much  for  teaching  me 
the  price  of  being  duped  by  a  great  rascal.  But  I 
can't  see  that  I  have  any  further  use  for  you,  and 
I  shall  be  infinitely  obliged  if  you  will  take  your 
leave  as  speedily  as  possible." 

Barncastle  rose  with  pride. 

"  Mr.  Martin,"  said  he,  "  I  would  call  you  my 
friend,  but  it  might  .be  disagreeable — there  is  a 
chord  in  the  human  breast  that  needs  but  one 
touch  to  vibrate  painfully.  If  you  have  touched 
that  chord  in  this  bosom — " 

"  Now  that  will  do,  Barncastle,"  interrupted 
Zach.  "Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  get  out?  " 

"Get  out!"  repeated  Barncastle;  "get  out, 
sir!  If  my  presence  is  offensive,  you  have  but  to 


mention  it." 


260  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  But  I  have  mentioned  it,"  said  Zach. 

"Ingratitude,"  continued  Barncastle,  taking  his 
hat,  "is  a  sentiment  unknown  to  the  family  of 
which  I  happen  to  be  an  unworthy  scion.  I  can 
not,  therefore,  understand  it.  I  shall  take  my 
leave,  sir." 

"Well,  take  it,"  said  Zach.,  "and  have  done 
with  it." 

"  It  is  probably  useless,"  said  Barncastle,  paus 
ing,  "to  appeal  to  you,  but  at  this  moment  I  am 
financially  low.  I  confess  it,  and  necessity,  Mr. 
Martin,  knows  no  law;  it  humbles  the  proudest 
spirit  Might  I,  sir,  ask  the  loan  of  an  X  until 
morning?  " 

Barncastle  struck  a  stage  attitude  as  he  said 
this,  and  placed  his  right  hand  in  his  bosom. 

"No,"  exclaimed  Zach.,  very  positively. 

"A  V,  then,"  said  Barncastle.  "I  reduce 
myself  to  the  ranks.  A  paltry  V." 

"  No  ! "  reiterated  Zach. 

"  No  ! "  exclaimed  Barncastle.  "  You  said 
no!" 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  261 

"  I  said  no,"  returned  Zach,  "and  I  meant  no." 

"  Mr.  Martin,"  said  Barncastle  sadly,  but  still 
with  dignity,  "  good  morning."  He  advanced  to 
the  door,  but  turned  before  opening  it,  and  con 
tinued  .  "  I  would  say,  because  hunger  is  even 
more  potent  than  pride,  I  would  say,  and  I  will 
say,  two  dollars." 

"  I  told  you  no"  returned  Zach.,  again. 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Barncastle ;  "  I  heard  the 
sharp  reply,  but  a  heart  shrouded  in  misery  does 
not  heed,  with  that  natural  indignation  which 
would  otherwise  be  aroused,  these  rebuffs  of  proud 
men." 

"  Well,jj/<?^  may  heed  them,"  said  Zach.  "Once 
more  I  tell  you  no" 

"Mr.  Martin,"  said  Barncastle.  "I  bid  you 
good  morning,  and  may  you  never  know  the  pangs 
of  a  proud  heart  touched  by  the  icy  hand  of  indi 
gence.  Would  it  be  too  much  to  say  one  dollar.  A 
hundred  cents." 

"Not  a  cent,"  said  Zach.  resolutely. 

"  Mr.   Martin,"  said    Barncastle  with  his  hand 


262  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

upon  the  door,  "good  morning,"  and  at  last  he 
was  gone. 

Zach.  drew  a  sigh  of  relief.  "The  scoundrel/-' 
said  he.  "  To  think,  now,  of  the  intimate  friend  of 
the  President  being  reduced  to  such  a  strait ! " 
He  was  settling  himself  in  his  chair  once  more, 
when  the  door  opened  slightly  and  Barncastle 
stuck  his  head  through  the  aperture. 

"Fifty  cents!"  he  ejaculated. 

"  No,  sir,"  exclaimed  Zach.,  turning  round 
quickly,  "I  have  told  you  a  dozen  times,  no." 

Barncastle  drew  the  door  partly  together,  and 
said,  with  a  look  and  tone  that  was  really 
pathetic  — 

"A  dime,  Martin.     Ten  cents." 

There  was  something  in  his  face  that  some 
way  made  Zach.  at  last  hesitate.  His  resolution 
deserted  him.  With  that  sudden  impulse  which 
frequently  overcomes  men  of  warm  hearts,  he  told 
Barncastle  to  come  in.  The  latter  obeyed,  look 
ing  exceedingly  downcast  and  humble. 

"There  never  was  anything  like  it,"  said  Zach., 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  263 

and  he  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket  and  took  out  a 
roll  of  bills.  Thoroughly  angry  with  himself  and 
with  Barncastle,  he  selected  a  ten  dollar  note  and 
handed  it  to  the  latter.  "There,  you  incorrigible 
bore/'  said  he,  "  take  that,  and  now  I  tell  you 
plainly  if  you  ever  ask  me  for  another  cent  I  will 
cane  you  within  an  inch  of  your  life.  Now,  get 
out." 

As  Barncastle  clutched  the  note  his  eye  bright 
ened,  and  his  form  grew  erect  and  elastic.  The 
humility  was  gone  in  an  instant,  and  the  old 
grandiloquent  air  returned. 

"Noble  philanthropist, generous-hearted  states 
man,"  he  exclaimed. 

"Go,"  thundered  Zach.  "before  I  kick  you  out." 

Barncastle  started  toward  the  door,  but  as  he 
turned  the  knob  he  waved  his  hand  majestically. 
"Friend  of  stricken  genius,"  said  he,  "consider  this 

loaned  for  a  day;  I  shall ."  But  Zach.  made 

a  threatening  movement,  and  Barncastle  disap 
peared  through  the  door,  throwing  back  a  last 
"good  morning!" 


264  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

MISS    CRISTOPHER   GIVES   ZACH.    A    SURPRISE. 

That  night  there  was  a  distinguished  gather 
ing  at  the  Arlington  House  parlors.  The  portrait 
that  was  to  be  exhibited  was  hung  at  one  end, 
carefully  concealed  by  red  drapery,  where  it 
awaited  unveiling.  Zach.  had  called  at  an  early 
hour  for  Belle,  and  not  finding  her  ready  had 
strolled  out  for  half  an  hour.  While  he  was 
absent  a  singular  scene  was  being  enacted  in  the 
house  of  the  Marmalukes.  Belle  stood  with  her 
hat  and  shawl  on  awaiting  Zach.'s  appearance,  while 
Hartwell  was  leaning  over  the  back  of  a  chair 
speaking  earnestly  to  her. 

"So  you  really  think  he  will  be  defeated?"  said 
Belle. 

"As  certain  as  the  sun  shines,"  replied  Hart- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  265 

well.  "You  asked  him  to  make  that  appointment 
and  he  did  it." 

"  Well." 

"  He  had  no  business  to  do  it,  but  that  is  not 
all.  He  is  accused  in  his  district  of  being  bribed 
to  do  it.  I  have  attended  to  that,  and  with  the 
other  charges  against  him  he  can  not  be  renomi- 
nated." 

"  It  was  a  pity  to  defeat  him  so  soon,"  said 
Belle,  musingly, 

"So  soon!"  repeated  Hartwell. 

"Yes,"  returned  Belle;  "it's  delightful  having 
these  men  spending  their  money  so  freely  on  one." 

"I  suppose  so,"  said  Hartwell;  "but  I  am  tired 
of  waiting." 

"Well,  what  better  are  you  off?"  she  returned. 
"  Ma  will  never  consent  to  my  marrying  you.  You 
have  no  money,  and  I  must  have  money.  You 
have  no  position,  and  ma  insists  upon  position." 

"I  am  not  so  poor  as  you  think,"  said  Hart- 
well.  "  You  asked  him  to  assist  me,  and  he  did  it 
better  than  he  thought." 


266  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"How?" 

"With  his  eyes  shut,  like  the  fool  he  is.  I 
never  told  you  the  particulars  for  reasons  of  my 
own.  But  his  father  sent  him  seven  thousand 
dollars  to  invest  in  government  bonds.  He 
thought  the  stock  of  our  insurance  company 
better,  and  so  he  invested  in  it." 

"Yes,  I  knew  all  that." 

"  So  you  did;  but  the  company  is  worth  noth 
ing  ;  it  is  about  to  suspend.  The  money,  however, 
will  be  safe  enough."  Hartwell  said  this  with  a 
knowing  smile  that  Belle  understood. 

"  Shame  on  you !"  said  she,  playfully. 

"  That's  not  all,"  continued  Hartwell,  triumph 
antly.  "  He  indorsed  a  note  for  a  friend  of  mine 
for  ten  thousand  dollars.  The  note  was  dis 
counted  at  the  bank,  and  unfortunately  the  friend 
has  failed  —  Martin  will  have  to  pay  it." 

"Oh,  you  wicked  man,"  said  Belle,  striking  him 
with  her  fan. 

"And  last,"  continued  Hartwell,  "he  has  f?ve 
thousand  dollars  in  the  bonds  of  our  company  »n 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  267 

his  possession  which  were  delivered  to  him  by  one 
who  will  swear,  if  necessary,  that  he  took  them  as 
a  bribe  for  making  that  appointment  of  yours." 

"I  never  heard  anything  about  that,"  said 
Belle,  "  and  you  know  he  had  no  such  inducement." 

"What  is  the  difference  if  appearances  are 
against  him,"  responded  Hartwell,  eagerly.  "  Any 
how,  I  can  tell  you  that  I  have  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  as  the  result  of  my  last  few  years'  specula 
tion,  and  now  I  want  this  thing  broken  off  and 
Martin  given  to  understand  that  his  visits  are  no 
longer  acceptable." 

"  Why,  fifteen  thousand  dollars  will  not  be 
enough  for  us,"  said  Belle. 

Hartwell  looked  displeased. 

"You  are  trifling,"  said  he. 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Belle,  shrugging  her  shoul 
ders,  "we  will  wait  awhile,  and  if  it  all  comes  out 
as  you  say,  perhaps  ma  will  consent,  but  let  us  go 
on  for  a  while  and  see  what  will  happen." 

Hartwell  was  about  to  reply,  when  the  door 
bell  rang. 


268  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  There  he  is,"  said  Belle.  "  He  must  not  see 
you  here.  Go  down  the  back  stairs,  and  come 
again  and  we  will  talk  it  over."  The  hall  door 
opened  to  admit  Zach.  as  Hartwell  hurriedly 
kissed  Belle  and  passed  out  as  directed. 

"Ah!"  said  she  to  Zach.  as  he  entered  the 
parlor,  "  I  thought  you  would  never  come." 

"  I  have  been  here  before,"  said  Zach  ;  "  but  it 
is  not  late.  A  little  while,  Belle,  and  we  will  not 
be  waiting  for  each  other  in  this  manner,  for  we 
shall  be  always  together." 

"  Like  two  doves  in  a  cote  by  themselves," 
responded  Belle.  "  Oh,  that  will  be  delightful ! " 

Something  in  her  tones  grated  upon  Zach. 
"  What  is  it  about  the  girl  I  can  not  fathom,"  he 
thought.  "She  is  very  beautiful,  and  that  she 
loves  me  I  do  not  doubt,  and  yet  I  can  not  under 
stand  her." 

"  Belle,  you  love  me,  do  you  not  ? "  he  said, 
taking  her  hand  in  his.- 

"Why,  what  a  question!"  said  Belle.  "Of 
course  I  do." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  269 

"And  are  willing  to  go  through  life  with  me, 
for  better  or  for  worse?" 

"  Ah,"  said  she,  turning  her  lustrous  eyes  upon 
him.  "You  do  not  know  a  true  woman's  heart  if 
you  imagine  that  she  who  leans  fondly  upon  the 
man  she  loves  in  prosperity  will  not  cling  to  him 
closer  than  a  brother  in  adversity." 

She  said  this  very  tenderly,  and  placed  her 
hands  confidingly  on  his  arm. 

"  Thank  you  for  that,"  said  Zach.,  and  he 
pressed  a  kiss  on  the  upturned  face,  where  the  kiss 
of  another  was  hardly  dry.  Then  the  two  went 
out  together. 

*  *  *  *  * 

The  company  at  the  Arlington,  as  before 
stated,  was  a  distinguished  one,  though  it  num 
bered  among  it  a  number  who  could  lay  no  claim 
to  eminence.  Among  them  were  Mrs.  Barker, 
Mr.  Audley,  Mrs.  Sampson,  and  others  whom  we 
have  met  before. 

They  were  chatting  gayly,  waiting  for  the  cere- 


270  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

mony  to  take  place,  the  conversation  as  usual 
being  very  light  and  unimportant. 

"Now  you  can  see  what  it  is,"  said  Judge 
Spalding,  "  to  be  born  lucky.  Why,  there  isn't  a 
statesman  in  the  land  who  would  not  exchange 
places  with  this  girl-artist;  and,  as  for  money, 
why,  her  pockets  are  full,  while  theirs  are  gener 
ally  empty." 

"  Not  if  half  the  stories  are  true,"  replied  Mr. 
Marmaluke,  who,  as  usual,  was  close  to  the  Judge. 
"  If  we  can  believe  the  papers,  we  haven't  a  half- 
dozen  honest  public  men  in  the  country." 

"  Stuff  and  nonsense  !"  cried  the  Judge.  "The 
papers  once  represented,  that  I  had  run  away  with 
Tom  Finch's  wife,  and  Tom,  who  was  in  New 
York,  chartered  a  special  train  to  bring  him  home. 
He  found  that  his  wife  was  laid  up  with  the  bilious 
fever,  and  hadn't  been  out  of  bed  for  a  week, 
while  I  was  pursuing  my  virtuous  duties  as  usual. 
By  the  way,  speaking  of  the  papers  —  have  you 
seen  those  furious  articles  against  Martin  ?  They 
tell  me  he  will  be  defeated." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  271 

"  Defeated  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Marmaluke;  "  Mr. 
Martin  defeated  ?" 

"Yes,"  returned  the  Judge,  "they  say  there  is 
no  doubt  of  it.  Oh,  they  charge  him  with  all 
manner  of  rascality,  and  they  say  he  dare  not 
deny  it." 

"  I  saw  some  of  the  charges,"  said  Marmaluke^ 
"  but  I  did  not  believe  them.  They  can't  be  true." 

"And  what  if  they  are  not?"  said  Mrs.  Mar 
maluke,  tartly.  "  They  might  as  well  be  if  he  is 
defeated  on  account  of  them." 

"  Marmaluke  has  got  a  fiety  one,"  said  the 
Judge,  in  an  undertone  to  a  friend,  as  he  turned 
away.  "  I  knew  what  she  was  and  barely  escaped 
marriage  with  her  myself.  Lord,  how  she  would 
have  warped  my  judgment." 

While  the  above  was  going  on,  another  conver 
sation  was  taking  place  between  Audley,  Mrs. 
Barker,  and  others.  Mrs.  B.  had  seen  the  artist 
and  was  dilating  on  her  extraordinary  beauty  and 
character. 

"So  beautiful  and  charming,"  said  she;  "such 


272  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

artlessness  !     Why,  in  the  few  moments  I  saw  hei 
I  felt  hopelessly  in  love  with  her." 

"  Well,  deuce  take  it,"  exclaimed  Audley, 
"introduce  a  fellow." 

"You!"  said  Mrs.  Barker,  looking  at  him. 
"Why,  bless  you,  she  has  a  thousand  admirers 
already.  Senators,  judges,  foreign  ministers,  and 
half  the  nobility  of  England  and  the  continent 
are  ready  to  fall  at  her  feet.  What  could  you  do?" 

"  There  may  be  that  in  my  figure,"  said  Audley, 
"in  my  eye,  in  my  nose,  that  all  the  dukes  and 
earls  in  this  world  do  not  possess.  It's  not  an 
unusual  thing.  I've  made  many  a  conquest  by  the 
knot  in  my  neck-tie." 

"Well,"  said  Mrs.  Gammill,  "if  she  falls  in  love 
with  you  —  now  mark!" 

"Yes,"  exclaimed  Audley,  eagerly. 

"If  she  falls  in  love  with  you  she  will  observe 
you  closely,  in  order  that  she  may  paint  your  por 
trait.  That's  the  way  these  artists  always  do." 

"I'll  watch  her  closely,"  said  Audley,  chuckling. 

"  But  don't  speak,"  put  in  Mrs.  Sampson.    "  Let 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  273 

your  figure  give  evidence  of  the  colossal  mind  that 
inhabits  it." 

"  Not  a  word,"  said  Audley.  "  Leave  her  in 
suspense,  you  know." 

"Precisely,"  said  Mrs.  Barker. 

"She's  very  beautiful,  you  say  ?"  inquired  Aud 
ley,  anxiously. 

"Oh,  she  has  every  virtue,"  replied  Mrs.  Samp 
son. 

Grimshaw  had  stood  by  and  heard  this  conver 
sation,  and  muttered  to  himself,  "  Well,  this  artist 
is  a  fool  or  a  paragon,  that's  certain.  These 
women  haven't  accused  her  of  a  single  crime."  A 
few  minutes  later  Zach.  and  Belle  arrived. 

"  Mercy!  what  a  crowd,"  said  the  latter  as  they 
entered  the  room.  They  managed,  however,  to 
move  up  in  good  view  of  the  veiled  portrait  that 
stood  on  a  raised  platform  at  the  end  of  the 
parlors.  They  saluted  the  acquaintances  about 
them,  and  waited  for  the  ceremony  to  begin. 

"  Are  we  not  going  to  see  the  artist  ? "  said 
Zach.  to  a  friend. 

12*  S 


274  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"I  believe  so,"  he  replied;  "but  see;  they  are 
uncovering  the  picture." 

The  drapery  that  hid  the  portrait  was  removed, 
and  the  company  stood  silent  for  a  few  moments. 
Then  a  low  murmur  of  admiration  arose,  which 
soon  deepened  into  loud  and  continued  applause. 
Commodore  Grimshaw  stood  near  Zach.,  eyeing 
the  picture  through  his  glass.  At  last  he  said, 
enthusiastically:  "As  perfect  as  life!" 

"  The  expression  is  a  little  too  sad,  it  strikes 
me,"  said  a  gentleman  at  his  side. 

"  Not  a  bit,"  said  another.  "  The  President's 
face  in  repose  bore  almost  a  look  of  suffering." 

"By  Jove!"  exclaimed  the  Commodore  again, 
"the  girl  deserves  her  reputation.  I  would  con 
sent  to  marry  her  myself  without  seeing  her." 

"How  do  you  like  it?"  inquired  Belle,  turning 
to  Zach. 

"  Very  much,"  he  returned.  "  It  seems  to  me 
perfection." 

"  Hush  !  "  said  some  one  at  his  side,  "  here  she 
comes." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  275 

A  prominent  Senator,  now  no  more,  entered  at 
this  juncture  with  a  lady  on  his  arm.  They  came 
in  by  a  door  near  the  picture,  and  turned  their 
backs  to  the  audience  as  they  ascended  the  plat 
form.  The  lady  was  exquisitely  dressed,  her 
slender  figure  being  set  off  to  great  advantage  by 
a  heavy  dress  of  white. 

They  turned  on  the  platform  and  her  com 
panion  spoke: 

"Ladies  and  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "it  gives  me 
great  pleasure  to  present  to  you  one  whom  we 
all  delight  to  honor,  and  one  whose  signal  genius 
is  destined  to  add  so  much  to  our  world  of  art, 
Miss  Margaret  Cristopher." 

The  assemblage  broke  into  a  loud  clapping  of 
hands,  and  the  artist  for  the  first  time  raised  her 
head.  As  she  did  so  Zach.  started  as  if  struck  by 
a  blow. 

"Good  heavens!"  he  exclaimed,  staggering 
back  and  rubbing  his  eyes. 

"What  is  the  matter?"  inquired  Belle,  stepping 
hastily  to  his  side. 


276  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Zach.  looked  again  at  the  stage,  but  the  lady 
had  descended  and  was  lost  in  the  gathering. 
Before  they  could  make  their  way  through  the 
dense  crowd  that  surrounded  the  artist  she  had 
left  the  room,  pleading  indisposition.  Zach.  stood, 
puzzled  and  irresolute.  "  It  can  not  be,"  he  said, 
"and  yet  the  resemblance  is  perfectly  astounding. 
I  must  see  that  girl  again." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  277 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

IN     WHICH     ZACH.      MAKES    THE     ACQUAINTANCE     OF 
MISFORTUNE. 

Audley  was  charmed.  He  had  seen  the  artist, 
and  she  surpassed  all  the  praise  that  had  been 
bestowed  upon  her.  He  recounted  to  the  ladies 
his  experience,  his  impressions,  and  his  hopes. 

"  I  was  standing  right  in  front  of  her,"  he  said. 
"  As  she  raised  her  eyes  she  glanced  full  upon  me. 
I  remained  in  my  position  immovable,  but  with 
my  eyes  speaking  volumes.  I'd  lay  a  hundred  to 
one  she's  struck." 

"Oh,  impossible!"  said  Mrs.  Barker.  "So 
sudden?" 

"Why impossible?"  responded  Audley.  "Have 
not  thousands  of  people  fallen  in  love  at  first 
sight?" 


278  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  Certainly,"  said  Mrs.  Sampson.  "  Who  could 
gaze  unmoved  upon  that  figure?" 

Audley  simpered. 

"  Look  at  his  boots,"  pursued  Mrs.  Sampson, 
"his  gloves,  his  neck-tie  —  his  whole  appearance, 
in  fact." 

The  ladies  all  turned  their  eyes  upon  him  in 
silent  admiration. 

"  Now,  really,"  said  Audley,  deprecatingly,  but 
well  pleased;  "now  really,  ladies,  don't." 

"Oh,  you  needn't  deny  it,  Audley,"  said  Mrs. 
Barker.  "  The  more  I  think  of  it  the  more  I  am 
convinced  the  artist  is  done  for.  We  who  are 
accustomed  to  seeing  you  can  not  realize  the  effect 
you  must  have  upon  a  stranger." 

"Now,  really, ladies,"  exclaimed  Audley, putting 
up  his  hands,  "I  can't  permit  it  —  positively  now." 

"  You  never  saw  her  before  ?  "  inquired  Mrs. 
Sampson. 

"  Never,"  said  Audley. 

"Oh  that  settles  it!"  continued  Mrs.  Barker. 
"  It's  all  over  with  her." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  279 

"  Unhappy  creature  !     sighed  Mrs.  Sampson. 

"  Don't  be  hard  on  her,  Audley,"  pleaded  Mrs. 
Barker. 

"  For  the  sake  of  the  rest  of  the  sex,"  pursued 
Mrs.  Sampson.  "  Promise  us  now." 

"Ladies,"  said  Audley,  solemnly,  "I  swear  — 
that  is,  I  don't  mean  to  swear,  you  know ;  but  I 
assure  you  most  positively  the  girl  shall  not  be 
harmed.  I  am  devilish  wicked,  and  all  that,  you 
know,  but  this  is  a  holy  affection.  I  don't  say  that 
I  will  marry  her,  but,  upon  my  honor,  she  shall  be 
none  the  worse  for  knowing  me."  With  this  he 
gave  an  arm  each  to  the  two  ladies,  whose  eyes 
were  twinkling  with  merriment. 

"  Now  remember,  you  wicked  man,"  said  Mrs. 
Barker ;  and  again  pledging  his  honor  for  his 
good  behavior,  Audley  walked  away  with  them. 

It  was  rather  a  singular  fact  that  of  all  that 
city  full  of  admirers  Miss  Cristopher  became, 
before  the  week  was  out,  best  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Audley.  Why,  we  shall  see  hereafter. 

The  very  next  morning  after  the  scenes  nar- 


280  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

rated  in  the  last  chapter,  Zach.  received  a  letter 
from  his  father  informing  him  that  the  latter  had 
just  heard  from  Peggy,  who  was  living  in  an 
interior  city  of  Pennsylvania  She  wrote,  he  said, 
that  she  should  visit  them  during  the  coming 
Summer,  and  hoped  once  more  to  meet  Zach.  To 
relieve  him  of  all  embarrassment  she  wrote  that 
all  the  old  feeling  was  dead ;  that  she  freely 
forgave  him,  and  wished  most  heartily  to  be 
friendly,  convinced  that  that  was  the  wisest  course. 
Zach.  read  this  with  a  twinge.  It  was  not  so 
pleasant  to  have  her  adopting  his  advice  so  liter 
ally,  and  he  almost  felt  resentment  toward  Peggy 
for  feeling  this  indifference.  He  jumped  at  the 
thought  of  seeing  her,  however,  and  determined, 
he  hardly  knew  why,  to  go  home  before  his  coming 
marriage  and  meet  her  once  more  while  he  was 

o 

yet  free.  For  the  rest,  he  became  so  absorbed  in 
the  contemplation  of  the  coming  convention,  now 
close  at  hand,  that  he  gave  no  more  thought  to 
the  beautiful  artist  whose  resemblance  to  Peggy 
had  so  startled  him. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  281 

The  day  of  this  important  convention  at  last 
came  and  slo  .vly  passed.  Zach.  paced  his  room 
with  nervous  strides.  A  year  before  he  would 
hardly  have  turned  his  hand  to  receive  a  renom- 
ination.  Even  now  he  would  have  retired  volun 
tarily  with  hardly  a  regret,  but  to  be  forced  out 
under  charges  —  that  was  the  rub.  He  felt  sorry 
that  he  had  not  returned  home  and  made  a  per 
sonal  defense  to  these  attacks,  but  it  was  too  late 
to  think  of  that  now.  He  could  only  wait  impa 
tiently  for  the  expected  dispatches.  It  was  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  still  there  was  nothing. 
A  number  of  persons  had  called  and  sent  up  their 
cards,  but  Zach.  was  out  to  all  visitors.  He  dreaded 
to  show  his  anxiety  before  people,  and  dreaded 
still  more  the  effort  at  concealment  which  their 
presence  would  necessitate.  It  was  nearly  10  P.M. 
when  a  servant  knocked,  and  entered  his  room. 
He  bore  a  dispatch,  and  Zach.  took  it  with  an  air 
of  pretended  indifference.  The  servant  lingered, 
and  Zach.  turned  to  him  testily  and  told  him  he 
could  go.  Then  he  opened  the  envelope  with 


282  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

trembling  fingers.  He  dreaded  to  commence  at 
the  top,  so  he  began  at  the  signature  and  read  it 
backwards.  It  was  from  his  warmest  supporter, 
and  in  a  moment  Zach.  had  mastered  its  contents 
and  dropped  his  hands  upon  the  table. 

You  were  defeated  on  the  first  ballot  in  spite  of  all  we 
could  do.     Those  charges  did  the  work. 

That  was  the  telegram. 

He  read  it  and  re-read  it.  He  was  perfectly 
calm  now.  He  felt  disgraced,  humiliated,  insulted, 
but  nervous  no  longer.  He  sat  quietly,  looking 
vacantly  at  the  grate  for  an  hour.  Then  he  rose 
and  paced  the  room,  still  thinking.  At  a  very  late 
hour  he  undressed  and  went  to  bed,  and  finally  to 
sleep.  When  he  awoke  the  sun  was  shining  in 
through  his  windows.  He  felt  oppressed,  as  if  by 
some  calamity,  but  for  a  moment  he  could  not 
think  what  it  was.  Then  it  came  to  him,  and  he 
turned  over  and  faced  the  wall.  "  It  is  the  first 
blow  that  has  come  upon  me,  and  it  is  hard,"  said 
he  to  himself,  "for  I  did  not  expect  or  deserve  it." 

It  might  have  been  the  first,  but  it  surely  was 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  283 

not  the  last,  as  he  was  soon  to  find  to  his 
sorrow.  When  he  arose  and  dressed  he  had  a 
yearning  to  see  Belle.  She  would  cheer  him  and 
sympathize  with  him,  and  he  needed  some  one 
to  talk  to. 

"It's  not  all  lost,"  thought  he,  with  a  sudden 
thrill  of  pleasure.  "  Belle  yet  remains  to  me.  She 
has  been  my  comfort  in  my  success.  She  shall  be 
my  reliance  in  my  disappointment.  I  remember 
her  words  —  bless  her  for  uttering  them — 'She 
who  leans  fondly  upon  you  in  prosperity  will  cling 
closer  than  a  brother  in  adversity.'  I  will  go  to 
her.  She  will  give  me  strength  and  courage  to 
retrieve  this  misfortune."  And  taking  his  hat 
Zach.  walked  swiftly  away  toward  the  house  of  the 
Marmalukes. 

While  he  was  on  his  way  there,  another  queer 
scene  was  occurring  in  the  parlors  of  that  familiar 
abode.  Mr.  Hartwell  was  there  once  more,  and 
Mr.  Audley  accompanied  him.  It  was  not  yet  ten 
o'clock,  but  Belle  and  her  mother  were  seated 
listening  gravely  to  what  the  gentlemen  were  com- 


284  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

municating.  Hartwell  held  a  morning  paper  in 
his  hand,  from  which  he  had  been  reading. 

"We  rather  thought  it  might  be  interesting 
news,"  said  he,  with  a  meaning  glance  at  Belle, 
"and  so  we  dropped  in  to  let  you  see  it." 

"It's  the  strangest  thing,"  said  Audley,  "but 
there's  no  mistake.  Martin  is  confoundedly 
beaten." 

"  There's  nothing  so  strange  about  it,"  said 
Hartwell ;  "  others  have  been  beaten  before 
him." 

"Yes;  but  Martin  was  so  honest,  you  see,"  said 
Audley.  "  I  don't  know  why  the  stupid  people 
should  want  to  defeat  a  man  that's  honest." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  speak  a  word  against  one  who 
has  been  a  friend  to  us  all,"  said  Hartwell;  "but 
serious  charges,  and  I  understand,  proofs,  have 
been  made  that  Martin  is  a  dishonest  speculator." 

"I  heard  as  much,"  said  Mrs.  Marmaluke, 
"some  days  ago." 

"Oh,  is  that  so?"  responded  Audley.  "Of 
course  he  ought  to  be  defeated  then.  But  Miss 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  285 

Belle  there  needn't  look  down-hearted;  he'll  come 
up  again,  I  warrant." 

"What  has  Belle  to  do  with  it,  pray?"  asked 
Mrs.  Marmaluke,  with  some  asperity. 

"Oh,  nothing,  of  course,"  replied  Audley,  "only 
I  supposed  they  were — well,  that  is  to  say, 
engaged,  as  it  were." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,  I  assure  you,"  responded 
Mrs.  Marmaluke.  "We  have  only  received  Mr. 
Martin  as  any  other  friend." 

"Oh,  that  makes  a  difference,"  said  Audley. 

The  paper  that  Hartwell  had  been  reading 
from  had  an  unusually  lengthy  "  special "  about  the 
convention,  and  it  set  out  the  defeat  of  Martin  in 
all  its  completeness.  Zach.  had  not  been  simply 
beaten,  he  had  been  overwhelmed,  and  a  person 
had  been  nominated  absolutely  unknown,  even  in 
the  district,  save  to  a  very  few.  Hartwell  and 
Spiker,  with  whom  he  co-operated,  had  looked  to 
the  matter  of  the  dispatch,  and  had  the  charges  set 
forth  as  the  cause  of  his  defeat  with  a  great  deal 
of  flourish  and  detail.  Mrs.  Marmaluke's  resolu- 


286  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

tion  was  soon  formed.  She  expected  a  call  from 
Zach.,  and  she  prepared  for  it.  Belle  was  instruct 
ed  to  write  a  letter  breaking  off  the  engagement, 
which  she  did  then  and  there.  Mrs.  Marmaluke 
was  about  to  send  the  note  to  the  hotel,  hoping 
thereby  to  avoid  the  embarrassment  of  a  personal 
explanation,  when  the  door-bell  rang,  and  a  peep 
through  the  blinds  revealed  Zach.  on  the  steps. 
Belle  thereupon  hurried  to  her  chamber.  Hart- 
well  stepped  into  the  back  parlor  and  closed  the 
folding  doors,  while  Audley  and  Mrs.  Marmaluke 
prepared  to  face  the  enemy. 

Zach.  came  in,  and  looking  around  while  he 
bowed  to  them,  asked  for  Belle. 

Mrs.  Marmaluke  drew  herself  up  rather  stiffly. 
"Mr.  Martin,"  said  she,  "we  are  extremely  sorry 
for  you,  and,  believe  me,  no  one  can  feel  this  blow 
more  keenly  than  my  daughter.  The  poor  child 
suffers  with  her  friends  always,  such  is  her  sensi 
tiveness.  But  you  will  see  at  once  that  in  the  face 
of  such  plain  and  uncontradicted  charges,  it  would 
be  improper  for  her  to  continue  her  acquaintance 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  287 

with  you.  Circumstances  have  rendered  it  neces 
sary  that  all  relations  between  you  should  be 
broken  off,  and  it  is  best  that  this  should  be 
understood  at  once." 

Mrs.  Marmaluke  thought  this  rather  neat, 
putting  the  charges  and  not  the  defeat  as  the 
reason  for  breaking  off  the  match. 

o 

Hartwell  heard  the  words  from  the  other 
room,  and  rubbed  his  hands  and  showed  his  white 
teeth  with  infinite  satisfaction. 

Audley  thought  this  rather  queer  talk  to  a 
mere  acquaintance. 

Zach.  was  dumbfounded;  he  could  hardly  be 
lieve  his  senses.  He  felt,  however,  that  this  was 
the  mother's  resolution,  a  resolution  that  Belle 
would  never  share,  and  turning  to  Mrs.  Marmaluke 
somewhat  stiffly,  he  said: 

"  I  prefer,  madam,  to  hear  this  from  Belle 
alone." 

Mrs.  Marmaluke  smiled  compassionately. 

"Here,"  said  she,  "is  a  note  which  my  daughter 
has  already  written  and  was  about  sending  you. 


The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

You  will  see  from  its  contents  that  I  only  speak 
her  wishes." 

Zach.  opened  the  note  nervously  and  read.  It 
was  a  cool  and  calm  dismissal,  with  only  the  com 
monest  expressions  of  regret ;  as  heartless  a  piece 
of  writing  as  could  well  be  imagined.  He  crushed 
the  letter  in  his  hand  and  dropped  it  to  the  floor. 

"  And  this  is  her  constancy,"  he  said  bitterly. 
"  O  blind  fool  that  I  have  been  !  The  world  turns 
its  back  upon  me,  and  she  of  all  others  to  be 
among  the  first!" 

Audley,  who  had  been  standing  silently  lean 
ing  against  the  mantel,  was  touched  at  Zach.'s 
manner.  He  would  really  have  liked  to  do  some 
thing,  but  he  had  no  judgment,  no  discretion,  no 
sense,  in  fact,  and  so  his  effort  at  comfort  simply 
amounted  to  an  insult. 

*'  It's  devilish  hard,  Martin/  said  he ;  "  but 
politicians  must  expect  these  things.  I  ain't  a 
benevolent  society  or  anything  of  that  kind,  you 
know,  but  if  fifty  or  a  hundred  dollars  would  help 
you  any,  why  here  it  is."  Audley  put  his  hand  in 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  289 

his  pocket,  but  Zach.  never  noticed  him.  Taking 
his  hat,  and  turning  to  Mrs.  Marmaluke,  he  said : 

"  I  have  no  reply  to  make  to  this  note,  madam. 
It  is  perhaps  just  that  this  humiliation,  should 
come  upon  me,  and  I  accept  it.  Neither  you  nor 
your  daughter  need  fear  any  further  annoyance 
from  me.  The  road  that  leads  by  you  and  around 
you  I  shall  travel  hereafter,  and  as  best  I  can, 
alone." 

Saying  this  Zach.  stalked  out  the  door,  his  face 
flushed  and  excited.  Belle  had  heard  the  conver 
sation  from  the  hall  landing  above,  and  she  gazed 
down  upon  Zach.  as  he  came  out,  hot  and  indig 
nant.  She  thought  she  never  saw  him  look  so 
well  before,  and  she  felt  an  impulse  to  call  to  him 
and  throw  her  arms  about  his  neck  and  deny  the 
cruel  letter  ;  but  the  feeling  was  merely  a  roman 
tic  one,  growing  out  of  the  situation  and  not 
originating  in  her  heart,  and  so  she  stood  still, 
with  a  half-smile  upon  her  face,  and  saw  him  go 
out  from  that  house  forever. 


290  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

BOBBIN    ATTENDS    A    PRESIDENTIAL    RECEPTION. 

Mr.  Bobbin  had  been  a  good  while  in  the 
capital,  but  had  never  yet  attended  a  Presidential 
reception.  He  had  often  been  importuned  to  do 
so,  but  there  was  something  awful  to  him  in  the 
thought  of  standing  in  the  presence  of  the  repub 
lican  court,  and  he  had  so  far  managed  to  escape 
the  trial.  But  Mrs.  Bobbin  finally  became  impor 
tunate,  and  her  husband  was  forced,  much  against 
his  will,  to  consent  to  go. 

Mrs.  B.  got  herself  up  for  this  occasion  in  a 
style  of  magnificence  rare  to  behold,  and  Bobbin 
gazed  upon  her  with  something  akin  to  amaze 
ment.  She  attired  herself  in  a  thin  white  dress, 
upon  which  there  appeared  to  have  descended  a 
perfect  shower  of  pink  ribbons.  There  was  a 
brilliant  pink  sash  around  her  waist,  pink  bows 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  291 

sprinkled  plentifully  up  and  down  the  skirt,  pink 
bands  around  her  wrists,  and  pink  streamers  in  her 
hair.  The  latter  was  also  set  off  with  a  wreath 
of  flowers  in  which  conspicuously  appeared  two 
enormous  pink  roses.  Looking  upon  her,  in  what 
he  flattered  himself  was  a  cool  and  dispassionate 
state  of  mind,  Bobbin  set  her  down  as  one  of  the 
most  gorgeously  attired  females  it  had  ever  been 
his  fortune  to  behold,  and  he  looked  to  see  the 
room  hushed  into  silence  when  she  put  in  an 
appearance. 

"  I  ain't  fit  to  be  seen  with  her,  that's  the 
truth,"  said  he  to  himself,  as  he  sat  gazing  at  her. 
"  Such  a  woman  ought  to  have  a  Major  General, 
at  the  very  least,  to  wait  upon  her." 

However,  there  was  no  help  for  it,  and  Bobbin, 
in  his  best  clothes,  and  wearing  a  very  stiff  collar 
that,  being  a  size  smaller  than  his  shirt,  gouged  his 
neck  in  a  very  uncomfortable  manner,  prepared  to 
attend  her. 

As  luck  would  have  it,  Angelica,  the  small 
servant,  had  what  she  called  a  "  'gagement "  that 


292  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

very  evening  herself,  so  that  the  children  had  to 
be  left  with  another  girl,  who  was  hired  for  the 
occasion  at  the  moderate  stipend  of  twenty-five 
cents. 

"It's  always  so,"  said  Mrs.  Bobbin,  who  did  not 
like  the  extra  expense  ;  "  I  never  want  to  leave 
the  house  but  that  girl  has  to  go  out  at  the  same 
time;"  but  she  became  tranquil  as  she  surveyed 
herself  in  the  glass,  and  finally  departed  with  a 
smile  of  satisfaction. 

The  Presidential  receptions  are  open  to 
respectable  people  of  all  conditions  in  life,  and  the 
crowds  that  flock  to  them  embrace  the  humblest 
as  well  as  the  highest. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bobbin  took  the  street-cars  and 
arrived  at  the  gates  in  the  very  midst  of  the 
crowd.  The  drive  leading  in  from  the  street  and 
up  to  the  portico  of  the  White  House  was  literally 
jammed  with  carriages,  requiring  the  united  efforts 
of  a  half-dozen  policemen  to  maintain  anything 
like  order.  A  perfect  stream  of  humanity  on  foot 
also  poured  into  the  inclosure,  and  Bobbin  soon 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  293 

found  himself  in  one  vast  procession  that  marched 
toward  the  entrance  to  the  Executive  mansion  like 
a  conquering  army. 

Entering  the  spacious  doorway  at  last,  he  was 
directed  to  the  right,  while  his  wife  was  bounced 
off  in  another  direction  to  remove  her  wraps. 
Bobbin  soon  found  that  he  was  expected  to  give 
his  hat  to  a  servant  in  the  cloak-room,  and  to  this 
feat  he  applied  himself  with  great  assiduity.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  about  a  thousand  men  were 
intently  engaged  in  trying  to  accomplish  the  same 
purpose  at  the  same  time,  and  after  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  he  was  no  nearer  the  object  of  his  ambi 
tion  than  when  he  began.  Suddenly  he  got  into 
a  human  current  that  set  straight  for  the  opening 
of  the  cloak-room,  and  without  any  effort  on  his 
part,  save  to  lean  back  like  a  horse  conducting  a 
load  down  a  steep  declivity,  he  was  hustled  on 
toward  the  door.  The  pressure  was  so  great  that 
the  crowd  on  either  side  of  him  parted  like  the 
sea  before  the  sharp  prow  of  a  ship,  and  in  a  few 
moments  Bobbin  was  clinging  to  the  little  counter 


294  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

in  front  of  the  opening  and  handing  his  hat  to 
one  of  the  colored  men  in  swallow-tailed  coats 
who  stood  behind  it.  Having  obtained  his  check, 
the  next  thing  was  to  get  around  to  the  door 

o  o 

where  the  ladies  came  out  to  meet  their  escorts. 
This  required  full  as  much  time  and  patience  as 
the  former.  Finally  Bobbin  resorted  to  a  bit  of 
strategy,  and  succeeded.  Taking  advantage  of  his 
thin  figure  and  diminutive  size,  he  dived  down 
amid  a  few  hundred  pairs  of  legs  and  came  up  at 
last,  very  red  and  nearly  suffocated,  at  the  spot 
where  Mrs.  Bobbin  was  waiting.  Joined  together 
once  more,  the  two  then  fell  into  the  line  and 
moved  step  by  step  toward  the  door  that  led  to 
the  President.  Soon  this  line  became  so  com 
pletely  jammed  and  wedged  as  to  make  even  & 
long  breath  almost  impossible.  It  seemed  that  no 
sooner  did  the  front  of  the  line  advance  an  inch 
than  the  rear  pressed  forward  two  inches  and  in 
this  way  the  crowd  became  packed  to  a  solid  mass 
"  If  I  was  out  of  this,"  said  a  fat  man,  whose 
face  resembled  a  boiled  lobster,  and  whose  eyes 


Zackariah)  the  Congressman.  295 

were   almost    starting    from    their   sockets,  "  they 
might  take  their  reception  and  be  hanged." 

But  there  was  no  getting  out. 

"  It's  dreadful !"  said  a  clerical-looking  gentle 
man,  who  was  pressed  so  closely  to  the  fat  man 
that  he  looked  almost  like  a  part  of  him. 

"  Dreadful !"  gasped  the  stout  individual.  "  It's 
horrible !  positively  villainous.  What  in  the  name 
of  heaven  do  they  mean  by  pressing  so  there 
behind?" 

Just  then  a  lady  with  a  white  satin  train  turned 
her  head  and  said  to  the  fat  man:  "I'd  thank 
you,  sir,  to  keep  off  my  dress." 

"  It's  not  my  fault,"  returned  the  latter.  "  They 
are  positively  pressing  me  through  people." 

"  If  I  was  a  man,"  said  the  lady  with  a  little 
temper,  "  I  think  I'd  press  back." 

"  Suppose  we  do  give  a  heave  back,"  said  the 
stout  gentlemen,  and  at  the  suggestion  a  number 
of  persons  attempted  that  feat.  The  result  was 
that  a  lady  just  behind  them,  and  who  was  imme 
diately  in  front  of  Bobbin,  uttered  a  cry,  and  in  an 


296  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

instant  more  was  leaning  in  a  dead  faint  on  Bob 
bin's  shoulder.  This  brought  temporary  relief  to 
the  others,  for  a  policeman  shouted  to  the  crowd 
to  fall  back,  and  after  considerable  excitement  the 
lady  was  extricated  and  taken  away.  The  gap 
was  immediately  closed  again,  however,  and  the 
pressure  soon  became  as  great  as  before. 

"What  the  people  expect  to  see,  that  they 
should  go  through  this  torture  to  witness  it,"  said 
the  stout  man,  "  is  a  mystery  to  me.  They  can't 
all  be  as  green  as  I  am,  and  yet  they  come  here  to 
be  murdered." 

Still  the  vast  crowd,  some  in  silks,  some  in 
homespun,  some  in  glittering  diamonds,  and  some 
in  gaudy  pinchbeck,  swayed  inch  by  inch  ahead. 
Bobbin  never  fully  appreciated  the  luxury  of  room 
until  that  night,  and  as  for  Mrs.  Bobbin,  her  tem 
per,  like  her  wreath  of  flowers,  was  terribly  mussed 
and  torn  before  she  gained  the  inside  of  the  first 
room.  Here  it  was  a  trifle  easier,  and  the  throng 
went  on  slowly,  until  suddenly,  so  suddenly  that 
they  never  noticed  the  fact  until  they  were  there  — 


Zackariah,  the  Congressman.  297 

the  Presidential  party  stood  before  them,  and  the 
great  pressure  ceased  —  ceased  so  quickly  that  it 
seemed  rather  odd  and  awkward  to  have  so  much 
room.  The  lady  whose  dress  had  been  trodden 
on,  and  whose  face  had  been  clouded  and  angry  a 
few  moments  before,  was  being  presented  with  a 
countenance  wreathed  in  smiles,  and  looked  as  if 
the  evening  had  been  in  all  respects  the  happiest  of 
her  existence.  Then  came  the  fat  man,  and  his 
visaq-e  also  thawed  out  under  the  Presidential  sun- 

o 

shine,  and  he  remarked  that  if  the  crowd  was  an 
index  of  popularity  the  President  stood  higher  in 
public  esteem  than  any  other  man  on  the  globe, 
for  which  he  was  rewarded  by  a  smile  and  an 
extra  shake  of  the  hand. 

There  was  one  gentleman  ahead  of  Bobbin 
who  had  suffered  all  the  tortures  of  the  occasion 
without  a  murmur  or  a  look  of  dissatisfaction.  He 
was  evidently  a  stranger,  and  as  he  approached 
and  the  official  at  the  side  of  the  President  asked 
his  name  the  gentleman  responded  with  a  confi 
dent  smile,  "Green !  my  name  is  Green.  I  guess 
13* 


298  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

the  President  will  remember  me."  And  he  glanced 
toward  the  Chief  Magistrate  as  if  he  expected  the 
latter  to  fly  into  his  arms  with  a  wild  cry  of  joy. 

"Mr.  Green!"  called  out  the  master  of  cere 
monies,  presenting  the  gentleman.  Green  grasped 
the  Presidential  hand  warmly,  and  looked  into  the 
Presidential  face  archly. 

"Don't  you  remember  me?"  he  inquired,  with 
just  a  shade  of  disappointment. 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  do,"  responded  the  President. 

"What!"  exclaimed  Green.  "Think,  now. 
New  Liverpool  —  cars  —  two  years  ago  —  Green!" 

The  President  looked  at  the  gentleman  doubt- 
ingly,  and  the  crowd  behind  pressed  forward. 

"  Please  pass  on,  gentlemen,  as  rapidly  as  pos 
sible,"  said  the  master  of  ceremonies. 

The  President  partially  withdrew  his  hand,  but 
Green  persisted. 

"  I  introduced  you  to  the  crowd  when  you 
passed  through,"  said  he.  "Don't  you  remember? 
Sent  you  my  speech  in  the  '  Eagle'  afterward,  don't 
you  know?" 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  299 

"  Ah,  yes,"  said  the  President.  "  Very  glad  to 
meet  you  again." 

"How've  you  been?"  said  Green,  turning  com 
fortably  to  the  side  of  the  President  and  resting 
himself  on  one  leg. 

Green  had  evidently  settled  himself  for  a  long 
talk,  but  just  then,  by  some  means,  he  was  caught 
in  a  kind  of  human  whirlwind  which  began  spin 
ning  him  round,  and  when  he  finally  came  to  a 
halt  he  found  himself  in  the  East  Room,  and  the 
path  behind  him  blocked  by  the  tide  that  poured 
through.  So  he  subsided  and  began  looking 
rather  sadly  at  the  portraits  of  the  Presidents 
which  adorned  the  walls.  And  thus  were  the 
hopes  of  Green,  cherished  for  so  many  months, 
rudely  dissipated.  His  services,  his  eloquence,  his 
very  name,  had  been  forgotten.  He  bought  his 
railway  ticket  the  next  day,  and  shook  the  dust  of 
the  capital  from  his  feet. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bobbin  did  not  trouble  the  Exe 
cutive  long.  The  official  herald  caught  the  name 
imperfectly,  and  presented  them  as  "Mr.  and  Mrs. 


300  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Pophim,"  and  with  a  momentary  clasp  of  hands 
they  passed  on  and  were  presented  with  like  irrev 
erence  for  their  patronymic  to  Mrs.  President  and 
other  distinguished  people.  Bobbin  only  had  time 
to  notice  that  the  Chief  Magistrate  was  supported 
by  a  formidable  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
the  former  in  a  bewildering  array  of  blue  and  red, 
and  white  and  orange,  and  the  latter  in  swallow- 
tailed  coats  and  white  neckties,  when  he,  too,  was 
swept  -into  the  great  East  Room. 

Here  the  crowd  was  quite  dense,  but  there  was 
still  room  to  move.  Seeing  a  good  part  of  those 
present  marching  around  in  a  sort  of  elongated 
circle,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bobbin  fell  into  the  current 
and  were  swept  around  also.  Bobbin  was  wholly 
unused  to  affairs  of  this  kind,  but  he  could  not 
help  marking  the  composition  of  the  present  gath 
ering.  All  classes  seemed  represented.  There  was 
the  "shoddv"  man  with  his  wife  and  daughters,  all 

f  O 

of  them  awkward  and  ill  at  ease,  and  yet  brusque 
and  independent,  showing  their  ill-breeding  by 
meaning  smiles  and  smirks,  and  anxious  to  impress 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  301 

people  with  their  great  importance.  But,  alas, 
wealth  was  unknown  and  unrecognized  there. 
Then  came  the  faded  belle,  dressed  with  faultless 
taste,  but  showing  the  dreaded  march  of  time  in 
her  features.  She  tried  to  smile  in  the  old  fashion 
that  had  won  so  many,  but  alas,  the  expression  had 
lost  its  freshness,  its  charm  had  departed,  and  men 
turned  from  it  with  pain  or  indifference. 

There,  too,  was  the  old  dowager,  bony,  hollow- 
cheeked,  and  with  wrinkles  filled  with  powder  and 
paste.  When  she  smiled,  the  beholder  looked  for 
the  ;  'aster  on  the  surface  to  crack  like  dried  clay, 
and  yet  she  tried  to  maintain  her  place  with  dia 
monds  glittering  at  her  skinny  throat,  with  bright 
apparel,  and,  worst  and  most  sickening  of  all,  with 
.  corsage  cut  low,  as  if  the  shrunken  and  wrinkled 
form  might  still  challenge  admiration  instead  of 

Pity- 
Then  there  were  bright  and  radiant  girls,  all 

happiness  and  vivacity,  stately  and  elegant  ladies 
in  the  heyday  of  life,  round-cheeked  and  matronly 
dames,  knowing  their  years  and  meeting  them 


302  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

appropriately  and  cheerfully.  There  were  high 
dignitaries,  low  officials,  foreign  ambassadors,  dash 
ing  officers,  handsome  clerks,  country  visitors,  and 
a  great  lot  of  bashful  people,  who  slipped  into 
corners  and  were  contented  to  gaze  at  and  not 
mingle  in  the  moving  spectacle.  Many  of  the 
ladies  had  evidently  come  prepared,  like  Mrs.  Bob 
bin,  to  excite  the  envy  of  their  sisters  by  the  style 
or  quality  of  their  apparel.  But  a  large  propor 
tion  of  them  were  soon  content  to  stand  aside  and 
envy  others  who  far  outshone  them.  Mrs.  Bobbin 
really  did  attract  attention,  for  her  head,  resplend 
ent  in  roses  and  ribbons,  shone  like  an  oriflamme 
in  battle,  and  her  dress  excited  wonder,  if  not  jeal 
ousy.  Detecting  a  number  of  ladies  smiling  quiz 
zically  at  her,  however,  Mrs.  Bobbin  subsided  and 
drew  Bobbin  into  a  corner,  where  she  could  see 
and  not  be  seen.  Standing  thus  apart  from  the 
promenaders,  Bobbin  suddenly  felt  his  coat-tai! 
pulled,  and  looking  around  beheld  Angelica,  the 
small  servant,  standing  before  him. 

"Why,  Mr.   Bob-iN!"   exclaimed  that  hopeful 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  303 

young  lady,  grasping  his  hand,  and  placing  the 
acute  accent  on  the  last  syllable  of  his  name  as  if 
to  do  special  honor  to  this  important  occasion. 
"  When  did  you  come  ?  " 

Bobbin  shook  her  hand  with  real  pleasure.  It 
was  about  time,  he  thought,  that  he  was  meeting 
somebody  he  had  seen  before. 

"  And  Mrs.  Eob-m"  continued  Angelica,  hold 
ing  her  hand  out  to  that  lady.  "  How  do  you  do?" 

"  Here's  Angelica,"  said  Bobbin,  gleefully  call 
ing  his  wife's  attention  to  the  small  servant.  "  Ain't 
that  queer?" 

Mrs.  Bobbin  curled  her  lips  somewhat  disdain 
fully. 

"What  are  you  doing  here,  Angelica?"  said 
she,  rather  severely. 

"Me  and  my  sister  —  this  is  my  sister,  mum," 
said  Angelica,  introducing  a  perspiring  young  lady 
in  a  bombazine  dress  ;  "me  and  my  sister,  we  come 
together  —  with  Mr. —  te-he  —  Mr.  Phillips."  An 
gelica  turned  around  as  she  spoke,  and  introduced 
a  very  slim  young  man,  with  the  lower  part  of  his 


304  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

coat  buttoned  so  tight  that  it  looked  like  a  sur 
geon's  compress  to  keep  him  from  bleeding  to 
death. 

Phillips  bowed  with  great  •  dignity,  and  would 
probably  have  contented  himself  with  this,  but 
Bobbin  extended  his  hand  and  warmly  shook  that 
of  his  new  acquaintance.  The  two  fell  into  an 
animated  conversation,  in  which  Bobbin  discov 
ered  that  Phillips  was  in  the  hair-dressing  line,  but 
had  an  ambition  to  get  into  one  of  the  depart 
ments,  a  project  which  Bobbin  promised  to  assist 
him  in  to  the  extent  of  his  power. 

Mrs.  Bobbin  held  very  little  discourse  with 
Angelica  and  her  sister,  and  the  latter  regarded 
her  with  considerable  awe.  She  pretended,  while 
they  were  near,  to  be  looking  for  some  friends,  and 
once  or  twice  turned  to  Bobbin  and  remarked  that 
she  didn't  see  any  of  the  "Members"  that  she 
knew,  and  it  was  so  strange  that  none  of  them 
were  there. 

"I  so  much  expected  to  meet  Judge  Crasher 
and  his  wife,"  said  she,  "and  Mr.  Martin  is  such  a 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  305 

friend,  too.  I  wish  they  would  come.  We  might 
go  in,  then,  and  have  a  little  chat  with  the  Presi 
dent." 

This  had  its  desired  effect  on  young  Phillips, 
as  well  as  the  sister  of  Angelica,  who  were  plainly 
impressed  with  the  social  eminence  of  their  new 
acquaintances  ;  but  the  small  servant  did  not  seem 
to  be  affected  in  the  least,  and  kept  wishing  they 
would  begin  to  dance,  while  she  balanced  herself 
on  her  heels  and  toes,  and  now  and  then  whirled 
herself  about  with  an  hilarious  swing.  After  being 
assured  that  they  did  not  dance  at  these  receptions, 
she  grew  impatient,  and  talked  about  ice-cream  and 
chocolate-cake  till  Phillips  tore  himself  away  from 
Bobbin  and  prepared  to  squander  a  part  of  his 
hair-dressing  earnings  on  this  wayward  sister  of 
his  fiancee.  He  therefore  wrung  Bobbin's  hand, 
bowed  low  to  Mrs.  B.,  and  the  trio  departed. 
Angelica  came  running  back  to  tell  them,  with 
many  a  snort  and  giggle,  that  Phillips  was  her 
sister's  "  young  man,"  and  that  she,  Angelica,  would 

make  him  buy  cake  and  cream  till  he   "couldn't 
u 


306  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

rest,"  and  then,  when  Bobbin  was  nearly  suffocated 
with  laughing  at  her  "cuteness,"  she  hopped 
away  again,  Mrs.  Bobbin  still  proudly  ignoring 
her,  and  gazing  far  over  her  head  in  search  of 
"Judge  Crasher  and  his  wife." 

A  little  later,  and  the  scarlet-coated  marine 
band  began  playing  "Home,  Sweet  Home,"  and 
this  being  the  signal  that  the  reception  was  over, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bobbin  departed,  the  former  feeling 
that  he  had  passed  an  exceedingly  pleasant  even 
ing,  and  the  latter  disgusted  with  the  whole  affair. 


Zackariak)  the  Congressman.  307 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

TROUBLE    THICKENS. 

"  It  never  rains  but  it  pours."  There  is  no 
proverb  so  universally  accepted  as  this.  It  was 
so  in  Zach.'s  case.  When  he  returned  to  his 
hotel  from  his  interview  with  Mrs.  Marmaluke 
he  was  handed  a  letter.  He  took  it  to  his  room, 
and,  seating  himself,  opened  it  mechanically,  his 
thoughts  on  other  subjects.  He  glanced  at  it,  and 
his  face  grew  graver.  He  read  it,  and  leaned 
back  in  his  chair  with  a  look  of  weary  disgust.  It 
was  a  notice  from  the  bank  that  had  discounted 
the  note  which  he  had  signed  with  Hartwell's 
friend,  informing  him  that  there  was  a  default  in 
payment,  and  that  the  payees  looked  to  him  for 
the  amount.  It  was  a  pressing  case,  and  his  first 
impulse  was  to  see  Hartwell.  Fortunately,  at  that 


308  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

moment  a  servant  entered  with  Mr.  Hartwell's 
card,  and  Zach.  told  the  messenger  to  show  the 
gentleman  up. 

"The  very  man  I  wanted  to  see,"  said  he  as 
Hartwell  entered  the  room.  "This  is  very  unfor 
tunate,"  and  he  handed  the  letter  to  his  visitor. 
There  was  a  look  of  infinite  satisfaction  on  Hart- 
well's  face  as  he  took  the  letter  and  read  it. 

"  The  very  thing  I  wanted  to  see  you  about," 
said  he.  "  I  would  not  have  believed  it  possible, 
but  that  man  has  decamped,  leaving  all  his  friends 
in  the  lurch.  It  will  come  near  ruining  me." 

"And  me,  too,"  said  Zach.  "  I  know  of  no 
way  to  raise  this  money  except  by  the  sale  of 
those  insurance  bonds.  They  are  the  property  of 
my  father,  but  I  might  replace  them.  What  are 
they  worth  ?  " 

A  look  of  well  dissembled  pain  and  astonish 
ment  came  over  the  face  of  Hartwell  at  this  ques 
tion.  "Is  it  possible,  Mr.  Martin,"  he  said,  "that 
you  are  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  those  bonds  are 
worthless  ?  " 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  309 

Zach.  had  risen,  but  at  these  words  he  sank 
into  his  seat  again,  very  pale. 

"Worthless!"  he  whispered.  "And  yet  you 
prevailed  upon  me  to  invest  in  them." 

"  Believing  them  to  be  perfectly  safe,  I  assure 
you,"  said  Hartwell,  "and  regretting  extremely 
that  I  was  mistaken." 

"  There,  go ! "  said  Zach.,  placing  his  hand  to 
his  forehead  and  turning  away.  "  I  wish  to  be 
alone.  If  you  are  innocent,  well  and  good;  if 
guilty,  may  heaven  forgive  you." 

"I  hope,"  said  Hartwell,  preparing  to  retire, 
"that  things  will  look  better  yet.  I  understand 
that  you  were  defeated  in  the  convention  also  ?" 
He  said  this  with  a  cruel  smile,  and  with  his  white 
teeth  glittering  through  the  jet-black  beard. 

"  Leave  me,"  said  Zach.,  not  looking  toward 
him.  "  I  know  the  full  extent  of  my  misfortune." 

"  Perhaps  not  all  yet,"  muttered  Hartwell,  as 
he  disappeared  through  the  door — "  Not  all." 

Zach.  told  the  truth  when  he  said  that  this  was 
the  first  serious  misfortune  that  had  come  upon 


310  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

him.  But  it  was  certainly  enough  to  have  pulled 
down  a  braver  man  he.  The  money  invested  in  the 
bonds,  as  we  have  before  stated,  was  his  father's, 
and  it  represented  the  savings  of  a  lifetime.  This 
was  swept  entirely  away  in  an  instant.  The  note 
which  he  had  signed  as  a  favor  was  left  totally 
unprovided  for,  all  the  money  at  his  disposal 
amounting-  to  only  a  few  hundred  dollars.  He 
thought  of  proceeding  against  the  insurance  com 
pany,  and  called  on  a  lawyer  for  that  purpose,  but 
was  answered  that  the  result  would  be  doubtful  at 
best,  and  that  the  suit,  should  he  commence  one, 
would  be  long  and  tedious.  When  he  paid  the 
money  out  to  Hartwell  for  the  bonds  purchased 
for  his  father,  he  had  received  a  receipt,  which  he 
had  mislaid  soon  after  and  never  could  find.  He 
told  Hartwell,  and  asked  for  a  duplicate,  and  Hart- 
well  promised  one,  though  he  assured  Zach.  that, 
having  the  bonds  a  receipt  was  of  little  conse 
quence,  and  so  it  appeared.  The  matter  had  there 
fore  gone  along  and  he  had  never  obtained  a  copy. 
Pondering  all  these  things,  Zach.  finally  strolled 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  311 

into  his  seat  in  the  House.  The  busy  hum  went 
on  the  same  as  ever.  A  large  number  of  gentle 
men  came  to  him  and  expressed  their  sympathy, 
but  Zach.  noticed  that  this  feeling  soon  died  out, 
and  that  from  the  day  of  his  defeat  he  failed  to  be 
of  much  consequence  to  the  members,  to  the  offi 
cers,  or,  in  fact,  to  anybody  in  Washington  official 
life.  The  people  in  office  from  his  district,  and  who 
had  been  kept  there  many  times  by  his  personal 
efforts,  no  longer  regarded  him  the  same.  They 
bowed  to  him  distantly,  and  letters  began  to 
appear  from  them  in  the  local  papers,  signed 
"Fifth  District,"  and  describing  the  wonderful  tal 
ents  of  his  successor.  There  was  one  exception  to 
all  this.  Bobbin  stood  true.  He  came  to  Zach. 
with  the  same  great  reverence  as  ever,  but  with  a 
look  of  compassionate  sympathy  on  his  honest 
little  face  that  touched  the  latter  keenly.  "It's 
not  for  me  to  say  anything,"  said  Bobbin  ;  "but  I 
believe  you  will  come  up  again,  sir,  strong  and 
poplar  as  ever." 

But   Bobbin  soon  had  trouble   of  his  own  to 


312  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

attend  to.  The  new  clerk  in  Washington  who  has 
political  support  withdrawn  from  him  is  in  a  bad 
way.  If  only  the  setting  and  not  the  rising  sun 
shines  upon  him  he  may  as  well  lay  down  his 
office.  The  ascending  luminary  has  too  many  to 
reward  with  its  rays,  and  a  shadow  soon  settles 
upon  the  man  without  influence.  Bobbin  had 
offended  Spiker  by  refusing  to  become  a  spy  upon 
Zach.  The  official  who  presided  over  Bobbin's 
department  had  been  given  to  understand  rather 
earlier  than  usual  in  such  cases,  that  the  discharge 
of  Mr.  B.  would  be  regarded  with  equanimity  by 
the  new  member  from  the  Fifth,  and  Bobbin  was 
therefore  overwhelmed  one  morning  by  finding  a 
note  on  his  desk  informing  him  that  his  services 
were  no  longer  required.  He  was  stupefied  over 
it,  and  kept  opening  it  and  refolding  it,  and  rub- 
bing  his  eyes  and  looking  it  over  like  a  man  in  a 
dream. 

"Pretty  tough,  ain't  it?"  said  a  clerk,  biting  off 
a  sandwich,  and  wiping  his  mouth  with  a  napkin. 

Bobbin  looked  up  from  his  chair  and  smiled. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  313 

"  Why,  you  see,  I  ain't  nothing  to  live  on,"  said 
Bobbin,  innocently. 

"Nothing?"  inquired  the  clerk. 

"Nothing,"  repeated  Bobbin.  "  If  he  would 
give  me  a  month  or  two." 

"It's  no  use,"  said  the  clerk,  "I've  seen  lots  of 
such  cases.  Comes  like  a  flash  of  lightning." 

Bobbin  turned  his  eyes  downward,  and  com 
menced  re-reading  his  letter. 

What  occurred  to  him  when  he  went  home,  it 
is  needless  to  recount.  But  there  soon  came  to 
him,  as  to  thousands  of  others,  the  searching  for 
employment,  the  tour  of  the  government  offices 
one  by  one,  the  inquiry,  the  petition,  the  denial. 
Alas,  who  can  appreciate  the  meaning  of  this  save 
the  men  or  women  who  have  themselves  figured 
at  one  time  or  another  as  discharged  government 
clerks?  What  a  fortune  the  salary  he  had  been 
receiving  seemed  to  Bobbin.  How  he  wondered 
why  he  had  not  managed  to  save  up  some  part  of 
that  against  this,  his  day  of  extremity.  He  had 

been  so  long  a  part  of  that  great  building,  coming 
14 


3 1 4  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

in  with  its  throngs  in  the  morning,  and  going  out 
at  night,  that  he  instinctively  wended  his  way 
thither  as  usual,  and  when  pay-day  came  around 
and  he  saw  the  faces  made  glad  by  the  receipt  of 
the  monthly  installment  —  to  which  he  himself  had 
grown  so  accustomed  —  he  stood  almost  like  a 
grieved  and  wondering  child,  whose  brothers  and 
sisters  have  been  rewarded  while  he  has  been 
passed  by.  If  merit  had  governed  the  action  of 
the  officials,  Bobbin  would  not  have  lost  his  place, 
no  matter  how  the  Fifth  District  had  gone ;  for  he 
was  faithful  and  honest,  and  had  grown  by  his 
experience  to  be  a  faithful  and  valuable  clerk.  If 
consideration  for  his  condition  had  actuated  the 
authorities,  he  would  have  been  given  time  to  pre 
pare  for  the  blow,  for  such  preparation  was  sadly 
required.  But  Bobbin  was  only  an  unimportant 
figure  on  the  chess-board,  who  could  be  sacrificed 
without  inconvenience,  and  so  the  blow  fell.  The 
very  fact  that  he  was  so  humble  and  non-combative 
made  it  all  the  easier  to  get  rid  of  him.  The 
order  came  from  the  chief  official  down  through 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  315 

lesser  officials,  until  it  reached  the  person  imme 
diately  over  Bobbin.  Every  one  of  these  gentle 
men  was  anxious  to  obey  the  command  promptly. 
The  chief  had  political  aspirations,  and  the  incom 
ing  member  might  promote  them.  He  desired  to 
placate  all  those  having  the  ear  of  the  President, 
and  this  was  one  opportunity  to  do  so  without 
cost  to  himself.  He  knew  nothing  of  Bobbin  per 
sonally;  didn't  even  know  he  had  such  a  man  in 
his  department  until  asked  to  discharge  him.  It 
was  a  very  easy  thing  to  do,  and  'twas  done,  and 
the  member-elect  notified  that  he  could  designate 
another  person  to  fill  his  place. 

Bobbin  did  venture  to  speak  to  the  chief  of 
his  division  about  the  matter,  but  the  gentleman 
smiled  with  such  lofty  compassion,  and  shook  his 
head  so  decidedly,  that  the  former  gave  up  all 
hope  before  his  request  had  been  fairly  preferred. 

"It's  no  use,  Mr.  Bobbin,"  said  that  distin 
guished  personage  ;  "  no  use,  I  assure  you." 

"  Oh,  I  suppose  not,"  responded  Bobbin. 

"  Not  a  bit,"  continued  the  former.     "  The  fact 


316  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

is,  hundreds  of  members  are  clamoring  for  places, 
and  it's  more  than  we  can  do  to  get  positions  for 
those  with  the  strongest  influence  back  of  them. 
I'd  advise  you  not  to  think  of  it.  Good  morn 
ing!"  And  he  turned  to  his  desk  as  if  his  con- 

O 

versation  had  not  plunged  the  humble  applicant 
into  despair. 

Bobbin  tried  other  departments,  but  was 
received  in  such  a  manner  that  he  grew  utterly 
discouraged  at  the  very  outset,  though  he  kept  on 
until  he  had  made  the  rounds.  It  was  a  singular 
fact  that  the  worst  treatment  came  from  depen 
dents  like  himself,  and  the  lower  the  grade  of  the 
official  the  more  insulting  and  overbearing  his 
conduct.  Going  up  to  the  door  of  a  great  secre 
tary,  he  was  intercepted  by  the  messenger  who 
stood  guard  on  the  outside.  The  latter  was  a 
fussy,  important  little  chap  with  side-whiskers,  a 
bald-head,  and  a  very  red  face.  Ordinarily  he 
rose  from  his  chair  when  visitors  approached,  but 
he  had  been  mentally  weighing  and  measuring 
Bobbin  during  the  latter's  progress  toward  him 


Zackariah,  the  Congressman.  317 

from  the  other  end  of  the  corridor,  and  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  long  before  the  visitor  reached 
him  that  rising  would  be  an  unnecessary  exertion. 
Leaning  back  and  stroking  his  whiskers  with  his 
left  hand  as  Bobbin  drew  near,  the  messenger 
looked  very  sternly  at  him,  and  as  he  approached 
closer  held  up  his  right  hand  with  the  palm  out 
ward,  and  beckoned  to  him  to  halt. 

"  Good  morning,"  said  Bobbin. 

The  dignitary  in  the  chair  did  not  deign  to 
reply  to  this  salutation,  but  said: 

"What  do  you  want,  my  friend?  " 

"  I  would  like  to  see  Mr.  Heavysetter,"  replied 
Bobbin. 

The  dignitary  looked  at  him  very  critically 
before  answering. 

"  What's  your  business?  "  he  said,  finally. 

"Well,"  replied  Bobbin,  blushing,  "I  thought  I 
would  see  if  there  were  any  places — " 

"There!"  exclaimed  the  messenger,  waving  his 
hand,  "  that's  enough.  I  know  all  about  it.  Dang 
me,  if  I  don't  think  the  hull  country  is  a-huntin' 


318  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

fur  places.     What  makes  you  think,  now,  we  have 
enny  vacancies  here?" 

"  I  didn't  know  but  there  might  possibly  be 
something,"  said  Bobbin,  meekly. 

"Of  course,"  said  the  messenger,  "of  course. 
That's  the  way  with  all  on  'em.  They  think  we's 
full  of  offices — jest  bustin' with  'em.  Wall,  now,  it's 
none  o'  my  business,  but  I  ken  tell  you  that  you'll 
run  a  mighty  slim  chance  here.  But  you  can  step 
in  that  other  room  there  and  see  the  chief  clerk,  if 
you  want  to." 

The  man  pointed  to  another  door,  and  Bobbin 
timidly  turned  the  knob  and  went  in.  There  were 
four  persons  in  the  room — the  chief  clerk,  who 
was  sitting  at  his  desk,  laughing  and  chatting  with 
a  big,  bold-looking  gentleman  near  him,  and  two 
other  gentlemen,  one  of  whom  was  sitting  on  a 
lounge  looking  over  a  newspaper  and  the  other 
writing  at  a  desk  in  the  corner. 

The  visitor  who  was  entertaining  the  chief 
clerk  was  a  well-dressed  man,  with  short,  black 
whiskers  and  a  very  full  face.  He  wore  diamonds, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  319 

and  was  evidently  on  the  most  confidential  terms 
with  the  official.  The  occupants  of  the  room 
merely  glanced  up  as  Bobbin  entered,  and  then 
resumed  their  conversation  without  further  notic 
ing  him. 

The  big-faced  man  was  telling  the  clerk  about 
the  delights  of  his  country  seat  outside  of  New 
York,  and  asking  the  latter  to  spend  a  part  of  the 
Summer  with  him.  He  dwelt  at  length  on  the 
boating  and  fishing,  and  from  that  they  fell  to  the 
discussion  of  other  matters,  and' finally  to  those  of 
a  confidential  nature  apparently,  for  they  put  their 
heads  together  very  close  and  spoke  very  low.  So 
it  went  on  for  an  hour,  Bobbin  standing  and  wait 
ing  patiently  for  an  opportunity  to  speak.  Finally 
the  big-faced  man  went  out,  then  the  gentleman 
on  the  sofa  rose  and  presented  some  papers  to 
the  clerk.  The  consideration  of  these  occupied  a 
half  hour,  but  before  they  were  through  with  them 
in  stepped  a  member  of  Congress  who  had  a 
matter  to  present,  and  another  half  hour  was 
consumed. 


320  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

And  so  it  went  on  until  three  weary  hours 
had  passed,  at  the  end  of  which  the  clerk  was 
unemployed  and  Bobbin  approached.  He  bowed 
as  he  did  so,  though  this  hardly  seemed  neces 
sary  after  being  so  long  in  the  room.  The 
high  official  never  noticed  the  bow,  however,  but 
turned  to  his  assistant  and  asked  if  "those  papers 
were  made  out." 

The  papers  were  made  out,  it  appeared,  and 
were  handed  to  the  chief  clerk,  who  proceeded  to 
affix  his  stupendous  autograph  to  them.  Then  he 
handed  them  back  to  the  young  man,  and  finally 
glancing  up  at  Bobbin  asked  him  what  he 
wanted. 

"  I  thought  I  would  see,"  faltered  the  little 
man,  "if  there  was  any  chance  of  getting  a 
place-  — " 

"Did  you  write  that  letter,  Billings?"  inter 
rupted  the  chief  clerk,  turning  to  his  assistant. 
The  latter  signified  that  he  had,  and  the  official 
again  glanced  at  Bobbin  and  ejaculated,  "  What  ?  " 

"I  thought  I  would  see,"  repeated  Bobbin. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  321 

"  Oh,  yes,"  broke  in  the  clerk.  "  Well,  we  have 
no  places,  sir." 

"  Nothing  at  all  ?  "  queried  Bobbin. 

"  No,"  said  the  clerk,  and  turned  away,  while 
Bobbin  silently  stole  toward  the  door.  As  he  was 
going  out  he  was  nearly  run  over  by  a  great,  gaunt 
man,  dressed  in  jeans  and  wearing  a  broad-brim 
med  hat,  who  came  striding  in. 

"Who  runs  this  shanty?"  shouted  the  new 
comer. 

Bobbin  pointed  silently  to  the  chief  clerk 

"Oh!  you're  the  chap,"  said  the  visitor,  walk 
ing  up  to  the  clerk. 

The  stately  official  made  no  reply,  but  cast  a 
withering  glance  at  the  new  comer. 

"  Are  you  the  man  or  not  ?  "  shouted  the  latter. 

"See  here,  my  friend,  I'm  not  deaf,"  said  the 
clerk. 

"Then  why  don't  you  answer?"  said  Broad 
brim. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  what  do  you  want  ? " 
inquired  the  clerk,  testily. 

14*  V 


322  The  D,  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"That's  the  talk,"  said  the  stranger;  "now  that 
sounds  like  business.  Wall,  I've  sent  a  boy  up 
here  twice  for  the  documents  on  that  Injun  busi 
ness.  My  name's  Peters.  Every  time  the  boy 
conies  back  he  says  they  ain't  ready.  Now  what  1 
want  to  know  is,  why  ain't  they  ready  ?  what  keeps 
them  from  being  ready  ?  " 

"  Where  are  those  papers,  Billings  ?  "  said  the 
chief  clerk,  turning  to  his  assistant. 

"  I  believe  Merrill  has  them,"  replied  Billings. 

"Who's  Merrill,  and  what's  Merrill  doing  with 
'em?"  exclaimed  the  stranger. 

"You  go  down  and  see,"  said  the  chief  clerk  to 
Billings,  and  the  latter  went  out.  Presently  he 
returned  with  a  big  envelope,  and  placed  it  on  the 
chief  clerk's  desk.  The  latter  looked  over  the 
papers  in  it  and  then  handed  them  to  the  stranger. 

"Are  they  all  right?"  said  the  latter. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  chief  clerk. 

"  Humph!  that's  business,"  exclaimed  the  gaunt 
man,  putting  them  in  his  pocket.  "Yew  kin  do 
things  brisk  enough  when  yew  try.  What  ye 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  323 

want  is  stirring  up  a  little.  I'll  be  dog  goned  if  I 
wouldn't  stir  ye,  too,  if  I  wur  here  awhile.  I'd 
make  the  musty  skeletons  in  this  'ere  dead-house 
jine  in  a  reg'lar  war  dance.  Bet  yer  life."  And 
the  lean  man  turned  round  and  winked  at  Bobbin, 
who  stood  almost  speechless  with  wonder  at  the 
stranger's  temerity, 

"  Now  I  don't  want  to  hear  any  more,"  said  the 
clerk,  flushing  up. 

"Oh,  yew  don't!"  exclaimed  the  stranger. 
"Wall,  I'm  sorry  fur  that,  fur  I  sort  o'  want  to 
speak.  Do  yew  know,  young  man,  yew  wear  alto 
gether  too  many  ruffles  for  a  feller  that's  paid  by 
the  public  to  work  fur  'em.  Yew  kinder  act  as  if 
yew  owned  this  place;  as  if  yew  hired  the  public 
instead  of  the  public  hiring  yew.  Now  yew  want 
to  git  over  that,  or  we'll  clean  yew  out  o'  here, 
r^ck  and  heels.  Yew  hear  me  now?"  and  the 
stranger  looked  very  determined. 

The  chief  clerk  was  thoroughly  angry. 

"  Billings,"  said  he  to  his  assistant,  "  call  John 
and  put  this  fellow  out" 


324  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Billings  went  to  the  door   and  returned  with 
the  messenger  who  had  held  the  conversation  with 
Bobbin.      When  the  stranger  saw  him  he  burst 
into  a  roar. 
-  "  What's  this  banty  goin'  to  do  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Put  that  man  out,"  roared  the  chief  clerk  to 
the  little  messenger,  and  the  latter  turned  upon 
the  stranger  very  pompously  and  pointed  to  the 
door.  The  big  man  laughed  at  this  again  and 
winked  at  Bobbin.  Then  he  started  suddenly 
toward  the  messenger,  who  scampered  to  the 
other  side  of  the  room  as  fast  as  his  heels  could 
carry  him.  At  this  the  stranger  laughed  again. 
"  Come,  sonny,"  said  he  ;  "  come  here,  I  won't  hurt 
you." 

At  this  the  messenger  gained  fresh  courage 
and  advanced,  ordering  the  big  man  from  the 
room  at  each  cautious  step.  He  was  yet  five  or 
six  feet  away,  when  the  stranger  gave  a  bound  and 
caught  him  before  he  could  escape.  He  whipped 
him  under  his  arm  as  if  he  had  been  a  bundle  of 
dry  sticks,  and  paying  no  heed  to  the  frantic  kick- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  325 

ing  and  squirming  of  the  little  fellow,  started  with 
him  toward  the  door.  Turning  there,  he  said  to 
the  chief  clerk,  "  If  I  had  yew  under  t'other  arm 
now  I'd  lug  yew  both  over  and  put  yew  in  the 
pound."  Then  administering  a  sharp  spanking  to 
the  messenger  he  threw  him  over  on  to  the  lounge 
and  stalked  out  of  the  room,  leaving  the  door 
wide  open.  Bobbin  followed,  and  saw  the  stranger 
chuckling  to  himself  all  the  way  out  of  the  build 
ing  and  even  after  reaching  the  street,  where  he  at 
last  disappeared  in  the  crowd. 

If  Bobbin  had  possessed  some  of  the 
stranger's  assurance  he  might  have  prospered 
better,  for  modesty  does  not  seem  to  pay  in  this 
world.  But  he  continued  to  meet  with  rebuffs  on 
every  hand.  He  had  a  letter  of  recommendation 
from  Zach.,  but  this  seemed  to  be  of  no  use  what 
ever.  Zach.'s  influence  was  gone  entirely,  and  he 
might  as  well  have  presented  the  recommendation 
of  a  Hottentot. 

One  day  he  was  met  by  Hartwell,  who,  after  a 
long  conversation,  gave  him  to  understand  that 


326  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Spiker  would  secure  him  his  position  again  on  one 
condition.  Bobbin  was  eager  and  almost  ready  to 
accept  the  terms  before  hearing  them;  but  when 
they  were  made  known  he  turned  away.  They 
were  nothing  less  than  the  false  and  scandalous 
defamation  of  Zach.'s  private  character,  which  he 
was  to  compass  by  writing  a  letter,  and  which 
Hartwell  pledged  him  should  not  be  made  public. 
Hartwell  was  not  satisfied  with  defeating  Zach. 
simply.  He  wanted  to  put  him  beyond  the 
chance  of  recovering,  and  he  looked  upon  this  as 
an  excellent  opportunity  for  securing  a  rod  which 
he  could  hold  suspended  over  the  latter's  head. 
But  Bobbin  exhibited  such  utter  pain  at  the  men 
tion  of  the  price  he  was  to  pay  for  reinstatement 
that  Mr.  Hartwell  gave  that  up.  Bobbin  might 
starve  —  he  began  to  think  he  would,  indeed  —  but 
he  would  do  this  a  thousand  times  before  lending 
himself  to  such  a  scheme.  And  so,  tired  and  des 
pairing,  he  tried  again  and  again,  only  to  meet 
with  constant  failure.  The  articles  of  furniture 
which  his  wife  had  purchased  disappeared  one  by 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  327 

one  to  keep  bread  in  the  house,,  and  still  he 
wandered  around  for  work.  At  last  he  secured 
the  position  of  a  day  laborer  on  the  streets,  and 
gladly  laid  hold  of  the  shovel  to  earn  the  means 
to  live.  He  was  unused  to  bodily  labor,  and  it 
went  hard  with  him  ;  but  he  never  flinched.  He 
even  did  more  than  his  share,  fearing  he  might  be 
discharged  otherwise.  For  three  days  he  worked 
in  this  manner,  but  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth 
when  he  attempted,  sore  and  stiff,  to  rise  from  his 
bed,  he  fell  back,  faint  and  with  racking  pains  in 
every  limb.  The  next  day  a  physician  came  to  see 
him  and  pronounced  him  ill  of  a  very  malignant 
fever.  Exposure,  anxiety,  and  over-exertion  had  at 
last  done  their  work,  and  Bobbin  must  rest,  what 
ever  the  consequence. 

If  the  system  which  precipitated  all  this  on 
Bobbin's  head  was  to  blame  and  is  to  blame  for 
like  cases  of  sorrow  and  disappointment  every 
day,  in  heaven's  name  let  that  system  be  changed. 


328  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

MISS   CRISTOPHER    FORMS    A    RESOLUTION. 

It  was  the  studio  of  Margaret  Cristopher, 
handsomely  and  luxuriously  furnished.  The  artist 
sat  alone  in  a  great  easy  chair,  a  book  lying  in  her 
lap,  her  fingers  idly  clasped  together.  She  was 
beautiful.  Not  a  word  too  strong  had  been  said 
upon  that  point.  She  sat  buried  in  thought  for  a 
long  time,  and  then  suddenly  rising  began  pacing 
the  floor. 

"Will  he  never  call  upon  me?"  she  ejaculated. 
"  It  is  now  plain  that  he  didn't  recognize  me.  How 
the  old  days  came  back  as  I  saw  his  face  for  that 
moment !  Days,  before  ambition  seized  him. 
Days,  when  we  were  children  together,  and  knew 
no  place,  no  enjoyment,  but  the  dear  old  home  and 
our  own  simple  love.  And  it  never  can  come 
again.  I  ought  to  know  that,  and  be  stronger. 


Zachariak,  the  Congressman.  329 

But  what  is  all  this  flattery,  all  this  praise,  all  this 
grandeur,  compared  with  the  honest  hearts,  the 
loving  eyes  that  greeted  me  then  ?  "  She  put  her 
head  on  the  table  and  kept  it  there  a  good  while. 
Then  she  rose  and  slowly  left  the  room.  Pretty 
soon  there  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  then  another, 
and  another  still,  and  finally  it  opened  and  Audley 
put  his  head  in.  He  looked  around,  and  seeing 
no  one,  finally  walked  into  the  room. 

"Here  I  am  again,"  said  he.  "I  can't  stay 
away.  My  days  are  troubled  and  my  nights  are 
sleepless.  They  tell  me  a  strange  light  burns  in 
my  eye.  What  if  I  should  go  mad  and  be  put  in 
a  straight-jacket,  and  have  my  head  shaved?  It's 
no  use;  I  must  speak  plainly  to  her.  She  has 
received  me  kindly ;  I  may  say,  warmly.  '  Come 
again,  Audley,'  said  she,  and  I  have  come  again. 
Shall  I  declare  myself  this  time,  and  risk  every 
thing?  I  believe  I  will.  But  what  does  she  mean 
by  harping  on  that  Martin  so  much.  '  Do  I  know 
Mr.  Zachariah  Martin  ?  '  I  do.  '  Is  he  to  marry 
Miss  Marmaluke?'  He  is,  or  rather  he  was  when 


330  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

she  asked  me.  But  what  was  Zachariah  to  her,  or 
she  to  Zachariah?  'Oh,  nothing,  only  she  had 
heard  him  spoken  of  by  some  friends.'  Well  I 
don't  care.  Love  conquers,  and  I've  no  doubt 
that  in  her  heart  she  loves  me."  Audley  was  look 
ing  in  a  small  mirror  and  smoothing  his  hair, 
when  he  heard  the  door  open,  and,  looking  around, 
he  saw  Miss  Cristopher. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,"  said  he,  bowing  and 
blushing;  "  but  you  said  'come  again,'  and  I  have 
come  again,  you  know." 

"Yes,  so  I  see,"  replied  Miss  Cristopher.  "You 
are  very  prompt,  Mr.  Audley." 

"Prompt!"  he  exclaimed,  energetically.  "I 
am  so  much  in  a  hurry  to  obey  you  that  I'd  come 
the  next  time  before  I  came  this  if  it  were  pos 
sible." 

The  artist  smiled. 

"  Well,  what  have  you  got  to  say  to  me  now  ?  " 
she  inquired? 

"  Nothing,"  said  Audley.  "  Absolutely  nothing 
-that  is  —  shall  I,  shall  I  speak  it,  Miss  Cris- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  331 

topher,  shall  I  give  utterance  to  the  burning 
words,  shall  I  — " 

"  No,"  she  replied,  quickly,  "most  certainly 
not." 

Then  smiling  again  she  said,  "  It  must  be  pain 
ful  to  give  utterance  to  burning  words,  Mr.  Audley, 
and  I  wouldn't ;  there's  no  occasion  for  it  ; 
besides,  I  want  to  talk  to  you  a  moment  about 
another  matter.  You  said  Mr.  Martin  and  Miss 
Marmaluke  were  to  be  married  shortly.  How  do 
you  know  this  ?  " 

"  Why,  there  it  is,"  exclaimed  Audley,  brighten 
ing  up.  "  I  knew  I  didn't  come  here  to  make  a 
fool  of  myself.  Why,  I  came  to  tell  you  that  they 
are  not  going  to  be  married." 

"  Not  going  to  be  married,"  repeated  she, 
eagerly. 

"  Not  going  to  be  married,"  he  returned  ;  "  the 
match  is  broken  off." 

Miss  Cristopher  hereupon  executed  a  queer 
movement  for  a  renowned  and  dignified  artist. 
She  jumped  up  and  down,  laughed  loudly,  clapped 


332  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

her  hands  together,  and  ended  it  all  by  exclaiming, 
"  Oh,  crackey." 

Audley  watched  these  movements  with  a  very 
bewildered  air.  At  the  last  exclamation  he  looked 
puzzled. 

"  Eh  !"  said  he.  "What  did  you  remark,  Miss 
Cristopher  ?  " 

"  I  said,"  she  answered,  going  close  to  him, 
"Oh,  crackey!" 

"Crackey!"  repeated  Audley.  "  Exactly;  that 
means — " 

"  Why,  don't  you  know  what  '  Oh,  crackey ! ' 
means,  you  dear  man  ?  "  said  she. 

Audley  clapped  his  hands  now.  "  She  called 
me  dear,"  he  said  to  himself.  "She'll  precipitate  a 
declaration  sure." 

"  But  tell  me,"  said  Miss  Cristopher,  recovering 
herself,  "why  is  the  match  broken  off?" 

"  For  the  best  reason  in  the  world,"  replied 
Audley.  "  She  refused  to  marry  him,  and  canceled 
the  engagement" 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  333 

"  And  why  was  she  going  to  marry  Mr.  Martin 
at  all  ?  " 

"  Position,  nothing  else,"  returned  Audley. 
"  Why,  what  else  had  he  ?  His  figure  is  bad, 
positively  intolerable,  and  as  for  his  taste,  I've 
seen  him  with  checkered  pantaloons  and  a  striped 
necktie  on  at  a  full  dress  ball." 

"Impossible!"  exclaimed  Miss  Cristopher. 

"  I  hope  I  may  be  struck  dead  if  it  ain't  true," 
said  Audley,  earnestly. 

"  And  so  she  will  lose  the  position  now,"  pur 
sued  Miss  C. 

"Lose!"  he  returned.  "No,  she'll  lose  noth 
ing.  His  position  is  gone." 

"  How  gone  ?"  said  she. 

"  Defeated  !  "  said  Audley.  "  Oh,  he's  nobody 
now." 

Miss  Cristopher  bit  her  lip. 

"  And  what  defeated  him  ?  "  she  asked. 

"Oh,  they  say  he's  a  hard  one  altogether,"  he 
returned.  "  Guilty  of  bribery  and  forgery  and 
murder,  for  what  I  know." 


334  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Audley!" 

The  young  man  jumped  as  if  struck.  The 
word  had  been  fairly  hurled  at  him,  and  looking 
at  Miss  Cristopher,  he  saw  her  s.anding  with  her 
eyes  flashing,  gazing  at  him  as  if  she  would 
strangle  him. 

"Why,  Miss  Cristopher!"  he  stammered 
"Why  — now— " 

"  Do  not  lisp  such  words  again  in  my  pres 
ence,"  said  she.  "  I  will  not  endure  it.  They  are 
mean,  contemptible  slanders." 

"Of  course  —  certainly,"  replied  Aiidley.  "I 
only  told  what  they  say,  you  know,  and  he  was 
defeated  on  them." 

"  Defeated  ?  "  she  replied.  "  Yes ;  but  a  defeat 
brought  about  by  slanders  too  base  to  deny  and 
too  contemptible  to  believe  resolves  itself  into  a 
victory." 

Miss  Cristopher  seemed  to  have  grown  a  foot 
taller  as  she  said  this,  and  Audley  gazed  upon  her 
with  admiration. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  335 

"By  Jove!"  said  he;  "she's  an  orator  and 
artist  combined." 

"Poor  Zach. !"  sighed  Miss  Cristopher,  drop 
ping  her  head  and  musing.  "  Tell  me,  Audley,  for 
I  think  you  honest  —  tell  me  frankly,  do  .you 
believe  these  stories?" 

"  Do  I  believe  them  ?  "  he  said. 

"  Yes  ;  do  you  know  any  of  them  to  be  true  ?  " 

"Why  no;  bless  you!"  said  Audley.  "  I  never 
saw  the  man  rob  anybody." 

"  But  do  you  think  they  are  true?  "  said  she. 

"  Well,"  he  replied,  "  everybody  says  so,  and  I 
have  never  disputed  what  everybody  said;  but  I 
will  if  you  tell  me  to." 

Miss  Cristopher  turned  away  with  a  look  of 
disappointment.  "  I'll  not  believe  it,"  said  she. 
"I'll  not  condemn  Zach.  unheard.  I  will  see  him 
and  speak  to  him.  If  he  is  in  trouble  what  fitter 
time  to  go  to  him  and  say,  '  Here,  Zach.,  as  in  the 
olden  time,  take  all  I  have,  and  only  believe  that, 
were  it  demanded,  my  life  should  go  with  it/  He 


336  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

can  not  be  so  unworthy.  He  can  not  have 
descended  so  low.  I'll  know  and  judge  for  myself 
From  this  day,  Zach.,  you  shall  have  a  guardian 
spirit  near  you  ;  and  God  bless  you,  whichever 
way  you  turn." 

And  Miss  Cristopher  once  more  sat  down  at 
the  table,  and  bowed  her  head  upon  her  hands. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  337 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

WHICH  EXPLAINS  PEGGY'S  REAPPEARANCE. 

It  is  time  to  explain  the  mystery  of  Peggy's 
reappearance  as  an  artist,  and  under  a  name  not 
her  own.  This  can  be  done  very  briefly.  When 
she  arrived  in  Philadelphia  she  was  very  much 
frightened  and  confused,  and  hardly  knew  where 
to  turn  or  what  to  do.  She  had  discretion  enough, 
however,  to  apply  to  a  policeman,  who  directed 
her  to  a  cheap  but  respectable  lodging-house 
Here  she  found  a  temporary  shelter  and  could 
look  about  her.  She  was  advised  to  apply  to  an 
intelligence  office  as  the  quickest  method  of 
obtaining  employment,  and  did  so.  There  she  sat 
during  the  greater  part  of  two  days  among  a 
number  of  rough  and  boorish  girls  waiting  vainly 
for  an  employer.  Two  or  three  applicants  had 

seemed  prepossessed  in  her  favor,  but  when  they 
15  w 


338  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

< 
found  she  was  totally  inexperienced  in  city  work 

they  passed  her  by  for  others,  Peggy  was  getting 
greatly  discouraged  when,  on  the  morning  of  the 
third  day,  a  lady  drove  up,  who  seemed  to  be 
regarded  by  Mrs.  Johnson,  the  keeper  of  the  office, 
as  a  customer  of  much  importance.  She  was  a 
tall  and  stately  woman,  with  a  sweet  and  quiet 
expression  in  her  face  and  with  a  smile  that 
completely  captivated  Peggy. 

"Mrs.  Johnson,"  said  the  lady,  "I  want  a  good, 
competent,  trustworthy  girl  for  second  work.  Who 
have  you  got  for  me  ?  " 

Mrs.  Johnson  put  her  fingers  to  her  mouth 
thoughtfully,  and  after  a  moment  said : 

"When  do  you  want  her?" 

"Immediately,"  replied  the  visitor. 

"  I  have  no  one  waiting  that  would  answer  very 
well,  I  am  afraid,"  said  the  woman,  "but  I  can 
send  one  to-morrow." 

The  lady  looked  around  the  room  and  her  eye 
lighted  upon  Peggy.  Mrs.  Johnson  followed  the 
glance,  and  said  in  explanation,  "This  is  a  young 


Zachariah)  the  Congressman.  339 

girl  from  the  country.  She  has  no  recommenda 
tions,  and  no  experience  in  the  city,  and  I  suppose 
would  hardly  answer  for  you?" 

"What  can  you  do?"  inquired  the  lady,  smiling 
and  addressing  Peggy. 

Peggy  blushed,  and  ran  over  her  housekeeping 
accomplishments. 

"Have  you  ever  been  out  to  service?"  said  the 
lady. 

"I  have  always  lived  with  a  family  that  took 
me  when  a  child  and  raised  me,"  replied  Peggy. 

"Why  did  you  leave  them?"  inquired  the 
lady. 

Peggy  hesitated  and  crimsoned.  Her  visitor 
noticed  it,  and  half  turned  away,  as  if  she  had 
already  abandoned  the  idea  of  taking  her,  if  she 
had  ever  entertained  it.  Peggy  saw  the  look,  and 
nervously  clasping  her  hands,  while  the  tears 
started  into  her  eyes,  she  said: 

"  Oh !  please  take  me,  madam.  I  will  tell  you 
the  whole  story,  which  is  not  bad  I  assure  you,  and 
you  need  not  keep  me  a  moment  if  you  do  not 


340  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

believe  what  I  say."  The  poor  girl  had  grown  so 
lonesome,  weary,  and  discouraged  sitting  there 
that  she  could  not  bear  to  see  this  opportunity 
slipping  away  from  her.  The  lady  turned  with 
some  surprise,  and  seeing  the  honest,  truthful  look 
in  Peggy's  face,  cast  a  glance  of  motherly  compas 
sion  on  her.  Then  she  turned  again  to  the  pro 
prietress  of  the  place. 

"Very  well,"  she  said,  "I  will  try  her.  What  is 
your  name?"  she  inquired,  again  turning  to  Peggy. 

"  Peggy  Clover." 

"  Or  Margaret,"  said  the  lady. 

"Yes,  or  Margaret,"  answered  Peggy,  though 
this  was  about  the  first  time  this  fact  had  dawned 
upon  her. 

"I  think  we  will  call  it  Margaret,"  said  the 
lady. 

"If  you  please,"  answered  Peggy. 

A  few  moments  later  the  matter  had  all  been 
arranged,  and  Peggy  with  her  bundle  was  being 
driven  away  toward  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Bene 
dict  Mrs.  Benedict  was  a  widow  lady,  childless, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  341 

an  invalid  brother  and  herself  making  up  the 
household.  The  brother's  name  was  Cristopher, 
and  he  was  a  rather  testy  and  very  eccentric 
bachelor,  ten  years  his  sister's  senior.  He  fright 
ened  Peggy  very  much  at  first,  for  he  began  talk 
ing  to  her  in  a  very  loud  tone,  and  directing  her 
as  if  she  had  been  in  the  house  for  years,  and  knew 
every  one  of  his  whims  and  peculiarities.  After  a 
few  days,  however,  she  began  to  understand  him 
better,  and  to  regard  him  with  curiosity  and  inter 
est.  Meantime  she  had  told  Mrs.  Benedict  her 
history,  briefly,  it  is  true,  and  that  lady  believed 
her,  though  Peggy  insisted  upon  her  waiting  for  a 
verification  of  her  statement  from  home,  where 
she  had  written,  as  before  stated,  and  from  whence 
an  answer  could  soon  be  expected.  A  week  after 
her  arrival  she  was  engaged  one  morning  put 
ting  the  library  to  rights  when  Mr.  Cristopher 
entered. 

"  I  was  arranging  the  books,  sir,"  said  Peggy. 

Mr.  Cristopher  rested  upon  his  cane  and  looked 
at  her  without  replying.  Peggy  kept  on  at  her 


342  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

work,  hardly  knowing  whether  to  do  that  or  retire, 
when  suddenly  Mr.  Cristopher  blurted  out : 

"  Peggy  what  ? " 

"Sir?"  said    she,   starting  and  turning  toward 

him. 

"  Peggy  what  ? "  he  repeated.  "  Your  first 
name's  Peggy.  What's  your  other  name?" 

"  Clover,  sir,"  she  replied. 

"What!"  he  exclaimed. 

"Clover,  sir.     My  name  is  Peggy  Clover." 

"Clover!"  he  muttered,  slowly  and  contemptu 
ously.  "Bah!  dishwater;  no  name  at  all.  By 
Jupiter,"  he  exclaimed,  after  a  moment's  thought, 
and  striking  the  table  with  his  cane  till  it  rang, 
"  I'd  rather  have  no  name  at  all  than  Clover." 

Peggy  was  much  amused  at  the  earnestness 
of  the  old  gentleman,  but  she  hardly  dared  to 
smile. 

"  No  name  at  all,"  he  continued.  "  If  you  stay 
here  we'll  have  to  change  it.  The  Legislature  can 
give  you  another  in  a  jiffy.  I'll  get  them  to  do  it 
We'll  call  you  —  let  me  see — we'll  call  you  Shuttle- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  343 

worth  or  Patterson  or  Gildersleeve.  Something 
with  three  syllables.  That  I'm  determined  on. 
Clover,  bah ! "  And  the  old  gentleman,  with  a 
look  of  disgust,  stumped  away  with  his  cane. 

Peggy  laughed  heartily  after  he  had  gone, 
almost  the  first  time  she  had  done  so  in  months. 
A  few  evenings  after,  she  received  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Martin,  and  went  to  her  room  to  read  it.  Its 
kindness,  its  almost  more  than  fatherly  affection 
touched  her  heart,  and  the  appeals  to  her  to  come 
back  to  the  desolate  home  made  her  very  wretched 
as  she  thought  how  unavailing  they  must  be.  At 
a  late  hour  she  repaired  to  the  door  of  her  kind 
mistress  and  knocked.  Entering,  she  told  Mrs. 
Benedict  of  the  receipt  of  the  letter,  and  handed 
it  to  her  to  read.  Mrs.  Benedict  was  much 
impressed  by  the  tone  of  the  letter,  and  turned  to 
Pepfgry  with  even  more  than  her  usual  kindness  of 

CSQJ 

manner. 

"He  speaks  here  of  a  portrait  of  his  son,"  said 
she.  "  Have  you  it  with  you  ?" 

Mr.   Martin   had  alluded  in  the  letter  to  the 


344  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

picture  of  Zach.,  though  not  in  a  way  to  indicate 
that  it  was  her  work.  Almost  the  last  thing  that 
Peggy  had  packed  in  her  little  luggage  was  that 
portrait,  and  it  was  now  lying  in  her  room.  She 
therefore  answered  Mrs.  Benedict's  question  in  the 
affirmative. 

"I  should  very  much  like  to  look  at  it,"  said 
that  lady,  and  Peggy  ran  up  stairs  to  get  it.  When 
she  produced  the  canvas  Mrs.  Benedict  was  very 
much  surprised.  She  had  expected  a  photograph, 
but  here  was  a  fine,  large  portrait,  executed  with 
much  skill,  and  a  wonderful  fidelity  to  nature.  This 
much  Mrs.  Benedict,  who  was  a  connoisseur,  could 
see,  though  whether  it  was  a  good  likeness  or 
not,  of  course,  she  was  unable  to  judge. 

"  A  very  excellent  work,  indeed,"  said  she 
"Where  was  this  painted?" 

Peggy,  blushing  and  faltering,  announced  that 
she  did  it  herself.  To  say  that  Mrs.  Benedict  was 
surprised  would  very  faintly  express  that  lady's 
astonishment.  She  questioned  Peggy  closely,  and 
when  she  became  satisfied  that  the  truth  had  been 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  345 

told  her,  she  regarded  the  young  girl  with  positive 
admiration.  Finally  she  asked  Peggy's  permission 
to  retain  the  portrait  for  a  while,  and  the  latter 
consented,  and  bade  her  good  night.  The  next 
day  passed,  and  the  subject  was  not  alluded  to. 
The  next  came,  and  quite  early  in  the  morning 
Peggy  was  summoned  to  the  parlor.  There  she 
found  Mrs.  Benedict  and  her  brother  waiting  for 
her. 

"  Margaret,"  said  Mrs.  Benedict,  "  my  brother 
and  myself  profess  to  be  tolerable  judges  of  art, 
and  we  were  quite  sure  your  portrait  was  really  an 
extraordinary  production  for  an  amateur.  We 
preferred  to  exhibit  it  to  experts,  however,  and 
have  done  so.  They  more  than  confirm  the  opin 
ion  we  expressed.  Now,  my  dear  child,  this  is  not 
the  life  for  you,  and  we  tell  you  so  frankly.  What 
will  you  do  ?  " 

Peggy  nearly  burst  out  into  hysterical  sobs  as 
she  heard  their  words,  but  restraining  herself  by  a 
great  effort  she  answered: 

"  I  do  not  know.     I  am  so  ignorant." 
15* 


346  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  I  told  you  she  didn't,"  blurted  out  Mr.  Cris- 
topher.  "  She  don't  know  anything  about  it. 
We've  got  to  take  charge  of  her.  The  first  thing 
to  do,  though,  by  Jupiter,  is  to  get  her  name 
changed." 

Mrs,  Benedict  smiled.  "  My  brother  and  myself 
are  willing  to  take  you  into  our  house,"  she  said, 
"and  provide  means  to  enable  you  to  pursue  a 
regular  course  of  study,  only  we,  of  course,  did 
not  know  what  might  be  your  own  desires  or 
plans." 

"  Oh,  if  you  only  would,"  said  Peggy,  clasping 
her  hands.  "  I  think  I  only  want  a  home  and 
friends  to  advise  me.  I  know  Father  Martin 
would  gladly  pay  the  expense  of  my  studies  if  I 
asked  him," 

"  But  he  shan't,"  said  Mr.  Cristopher,  striking 
his  cane  on  the  floor;  "Sister  and  I  will  attend  to 
this  business  ourselves.  You  shall  go  to  work 
here  at  once,  and  stay  at  work,  by  Jupiter,  till 
you're  a  full-blown  artist." 

"  Oh,  how  can  I  ever  thank  you  ?  "  said  Peggy. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  347 

"  By  changing  your  name,"  said  he.  "  Clover  is 
detestable.  I  am  morally  certain  that  no  human 
being-  can  become  an  artist  under  the  name  of 
Clover.  We  can't  get  the  case  before  the  Legis 
lature  now,  but  we  must  manage  it  some  way." 

Mrs.  Benedict  smiled  again  at  her  brother's 
queer  conceit,  and  Peggy,  laughing,  promised  to 
think  of  some  name  of  three  syllables  which  she 
could  tolerate. 

The  arrangements  agreed  upon  were  soon 
made,  and  in  less  than  a  week  thereafter  Peggy 
was  pursuing  her  studies  under  one  of  the  best 
teachers  Philadelphia  could  afford.  She  made 
rapid  progress,  and  in  the  Fall,  partly  on  account 
of  Mr.  Cristopher's  failing  health,  but  more,  Peggy 
believed,  on  her  own  account,  it  was  resolved  to 
spend  the  Winter,  and  as  much  longer  as  seemed 
desirable,  in  Rome. 

Mr.  Cristopher  had  come  to  regard  the  young 
girl  with  the  greatest  affection.  He  could  not  do 
enough  for  her,  and  it  was  to  gratify  him  that 
Peggy  consented  to  be  known  abroad,  and  profes- 


348  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

sionally,  as  Miss  Cristopher.  Every  morning, 
while  they  still  remained  in  Philadelphia,  the  old 
gentleman  accompanied  his  young  protege  to  the 
studio  where  she  pursued  her  work,  and  would 
frequently  spend  a  part  of  the  day  there  himself, 
watching  and  admiring  her.  It  seemed  almost 
providential  that  Peggy  had  fallen  into  such 
hands.  Both  Mrs.  Benedict  and  her  brother  were 
in  a  situation  where  any  deserving  person  could 
have  commanded  their  assistance,  and  where  one 
like  Peggy  climbed  into  their  hearts  almost 
like  an  only  child.  They  seemed  to  enjoy  her 
progress  even  more  than  she  did  herself,  and  the 
consultations  that  they  had,  and  the  plans  they 
discussed  for  the  future  were  many  and  interesting. 
It  was  just  after  getting  fairly  settled  down  to  her 
work  that  Peggy  received  a  great  shock.  She  had 
gone  to  her  studies  as  usual  one  day,  and  had 
been  particularly  pleased  at  the  warm  commenda 
tion  of  her  teacher,  when  finally,  having  finished 
her  task,  she  put  on  her  hat  preparatory  to  going 
home.  She  was  waiting  for  Mr.  Cristopher  who 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  349 

was  to  call  for  her,  and  who  she  momentarily 
expected,  when  she  took  up  a  newspaper,  and  ran 
her  eye  carelessly  over  the  advertisements.  All 
at  once  her  eyes  became  riveted  on  a  small  per 
sonal  at  the  bottom  of  the  page,  and  she  read 
the  following: 

PERSONAL.  — IF  PEGGY  c.,  WHO  LEFT  HOME  A 

few  months  since  to  come  to  Philadelphia,  will  communicate 
with  "  Zach.,"  she  will  confer  a  great  favor  and  relieve  her 
friends  of  much  anxiety.  Send  letter  to  Continental  Hotel 
for  three  days. 

Peggy  almost  cried  out  as  she  read  this,  and 
started  up  as  if  determined  to  go  at  once  to  the 
Continental  and  answer  in  person.  She  stopped 
after  she  had  risen,  and  slowly  seated  herself 
again.  What  ought  she  to  do  ?  She  reflected, 
and  then  resolved  to  lay  the  matter  before  Mrs. 
Benedict  and  her  brother,  and  be  guided  by  their 
advice.  She  could  hardly  wait  for  her  kind  guar 
dian  to  make  his  appearance,  and  when  he  did  she 
met  him  half  way  down  the  stairs  and  hurried  him 
away  almost  on  a  trot  toward  home. 

"Why, what's  the  matter?"  he  cried  out  a  dozen 


350  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

times,  as  Peggy,  in  her  great  haste,  shot  ahead  of 
him,  and  left  him  struggling  to  overtake  her.  "The 
girl  is  going  wild;"  and  then  he  would  take  hold 
of  her  and  shake  his  stick  threateningly,  and  try 
to  draw  her  into  conversation  and  sober  her  into  a 
respectable  gait.  But  it  was  useless,  and  Mr. 
Cristopher  reached  home  well  nigh  out  of  breath. 
There  the  mystery  was  explained,  for  Peggy  got 
both  of  her  kind  friends  seated,  and  then,  taking 
out  the  paper,  read  them  the  personal.  As  she 
did  so,  Mr.  Cristopher  struck  his  cane  violently  on 
floor,  and  blurted  out: 

"  By  Jupiter  !  I  knew  it !  Yes,"  he  continued, 
"  I  knew  it.  I  knew  that  fellow  would  come 
mooning  around  here,  sooner  or  later,  and  here  he 
is.  Burn  the  paper  up,"  said  he  energetically. 
"  Burn  it  up,  and  let  me  go  and  throw  the  ashes  in 
his  face." 

Mr.  Cristopher  was  very  much  excited,  and 
Mrs.  Benedict  tried  to  soothe  him.  "  It's  nothing, 
brother,"  said  she,  "  only  his  anxiety  to  know  that 
one  whom  he  regards  almost  as  a  sister  is  safe." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  351 

"  Yes  ! "  sneered  the  old  gentleman.  "  Well, 
she's  safe  enough,  and  he  needn't  trouble  himself." 

"  But  what  had  I  better  do  ? "  said  Peggy, 
nervously,  and  showing  plainly  that  she  was  half 
inclined  to  fly  away  to  the  hotel  without  stopping 
to  ask  advice. 

"  Let  us  reflect,  my  dear,"  replied  Mrs.  Bene 
dict.  "  My  judgment  is  that  we  had  better  send 
him  a  note  informing  him  that  you  are  in  safe 
hands,  and  so  set  his  mind  at  rest.  If  he  chooses 
to  call  after  that  you  can  use  your  own  discretion 
about  seeing  him."  Peggy  was  prepared  to  adopt 
this  plan,  when  suddenly  Mr.  Cristopher  gave  an 
exclamation.  He  had  picked  up  the  paper,  and  in 
looking  at  it  discovered  that  it  was  nearly  a  week 
old.  "  Why,  he's  gone,"  said  he.  "  Gone,  by 
Jove,  and  we  never  knew  anything  about  it.  It's 
all  up  ;  the  Congressman's  floored." 

Mrs.  Benedict  looked  at  the  paper,  while  Peggy 
eagerly  glanced  over  her  shoulder. 

"  Sure  enough,"  said  the  former,  "  he  must  have 
left  town  two  or  three  days  ago." 


352  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Peggy  almost  felt  like  crying;  but  as  she 
talked  and  thought  it  over  it  became  evident  that 
it  was  better  so.  The  result  was  that  she  wrote  a 
letter  to  old  Mr.  Martin,  as  detailed  at  the  time, 
which  was  received  at  home  while  Zach.  was  there, 
and  which  set  his  mind  at  rest  regarding  her 
whereabouts. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  detail  here  the  incidents 
of  Peggy's  life  in  Rome.  During  her  residence 
there  she  became  intimate  with  a  number  of 
prominent  American  families,  and  it  was  here  that 
she  first  met  Mr.  Bruce,  the  young  gentleman  who 
finally  accompanied  her  home.  The  portrait  of 
the  President,  which  was  painted  from  photo 
graphs,  finally  attracted  so  much  notice  from 
American  visitors  that  at  their  solicitation  it  was 
sent  to  Washington.  Here  it  was  received  and 
greatly  admired,  and  finally  an  order  came  for  a 
much  larger  one  of  the  same  kind,  and  this  it  was 
which  had  been  completed  just  prior  to  her  return 
home,  and  was  exhibited  as  before  described.  Old 
Mr.  Martin  had  been  kept  fully  posted  regarding 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  353 

Peggy's  life  and  prospects  after  the  first  three 
months  of  her  absence,  and  as  he  heard  of  her 
constant  advancement  he  could  hardly  restrain  his 
triumph ;  but  he  managed  to  say  little,  and  occu 
pied  himself  watching  both  the  movements  of 
Zach.  and  Peggy  very  closely.  He  knew  the  date 
of  Zach.'s  proposed  marriage,  and  he  had  insisted 
upon  Peggy's  return  a  few  months  before  that 
time.  And  so  she  shortened  her  stay  somewhat 
and  came  back,  arriving  as  before  described.  One 
sorrow  had  overtaken  her  and  her  kind  patroness 
while  abroad.  A  year  after  their  arrival  in  Rome 
Mr.  Cristopher  had  yielded  to  his  many  and  long 
continued  ailments,  and  after  a  severe  attack  had 
died  very  suddenly.  He  left  Peggy  a  handsome 
sum  in  her  own  right,  and,  in  case  she  survived  his 
sister,  a  very  pretty  fortune.  But  Peggy's  income 
from  brush  and  pencil  was  now  very  large,  and 
she  gave  little  thought  to  her  bright  financial 
prospects.  When  they  landed  in  New  York  Mrs. 
Benedict,  Peggy,  and  Mr.  Martin  took  the  cars  for 
Philadelphia,  where,  after  tarrying  a  week,  the  two 


354  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

former  repaired  to  Washington,  Mr.  Martin  leav 
ing  for  home  in  high  glee  and  hardly  able  to  con 
tain  himself  over  Peggy's  great  good  fortune. 

It  was  shortly  after  his  return,  and  upon  receiv 
ing  a  letter  from  Peggy  from  a  small  town  in 
Pennsylvania  where  she  was  visiting  for  a  day, 
that  he  wrote  the  letter  to  Zach.  which  the  latter 
received  the  day  after  the  scene  at  the  Arlington, 
and  which  convinced  him  that  it  was  only  a  pass 
ing  resemblance,  after  all,  between  Peggy  and  the 
artist  that  had  startled  him  so.  Having  thus 
explained  the  mystery  of  Peggy's  appearance  and 
change  of  name,  we  can  continue  our  story. 


Zachariahi  the  Congressman.  355 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

IN    WHICH    BOBBIN    MAKES     A    LAST    APPEARANCE. 

It  was  in  the  afternoon,  after  her  interview 
with  Audley,  that  Miss  Cristopher,  or  Peggy,  as 
we  may  again  call  her,  donned  her  hat  and  sallied 
out  for  a  walk.  She  did  not  know  where.  She 
only  felt  that  she  could  think  better  when  she  was 
moving  than  while  pent  up  in  the  house.  Once 
she  turned  her  face  toward  the  hotel,  where  she 
knew  Zach.  was  stopping,  determined  to  go  in  and 
reveal  herself.  But  her  heart  failed  her,  and  a 
thrill  of  pride  also  came  to  check  her.  What  if 
Mr.  Martin  did  not  care  to  have  her  intrude  upon 
him !  What  if  the  story  she  had  heard  was 
untrue  and  he  was,  after  all,  upon  the  eve  of  mar 
riage  with  Miss  Marmaluke  !  She  walked  down 
toward  the  hotel  and  neared  it,  pulling  her  veil 
over  her  face  to  avoid  recognition.  She  gained 


356  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

the  corner,  and  almost  turned  to  enter,  but  wav 
ered  an  instant  and  then  passed  on.  Then  she 
walked  rapidly,  without  noticing  where  she  went. 
On  and  on  she  wandered,  thinking  of  the  strange 
fate  that  seemed  to  have  brought  Zach.  and  her 
self  so  near  together  once  more,  and  was  now 
holding  them  apart.  If  Zach.  had  never  been  to 
her  what  he  had  been,  if  she  had  met  him  there  in 
Washington  for  the  first  time,  she  would  have 
passed  him  in  all  probability  without  a  thought, 
and  chosen  many  another  in  preference  ;  but  the 
fact  that  she  had  loved  him  once  and  first,  and  the 
further  fact  that  he  had  given  her  up  when  she 
was  humble,  though  it  mortified  and,  to  a  certain 
extent,  angered  her,  made  her,  after  all,  ten  times 
more  anxious  to  win  him,  and  gave  him  a  value  in 
her  eyes  immensely  disproportioned  to  his  actual 
merits.  She  felt  and  knew  this  herself  to  a  certain 
degree,  but  it  did  not  alter  her  feelings.  We  see 
many  such  cases  in  this  world. 

Peggy  had  been  walking  along  for  a  full  hour 
deeply  absorbed  in  her  reflections,  when  she  sud- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  357 

denly  heard  her  name  pronounced,  while  at  the 
same  time  she  was  pulled  gently  by  the  dress.  She 
turned  and  saw  a  middle  aged  lady,  thin  and  hol 
low-eyed,  and  dressed  in  that  cross  between  abso 
lute  wretchedness  and  gaudy  gentility  so  painful  to 
witness,  standing  beside  her.  The  woman's  hands 
were  clasped  imploringly  yet  hopefully,  and  her 
dim  eye  brightened  as  Peggy  turned. 

"Is  it,"  said  the  woman,  "is  it  really  Peggy?" 

Peggy  had  not  recognized  the  speaker  at  first, 
but  when  she  spoke,  her  face  grew  familiar,  and  in 
a  moment  became  known  to  her. 

"Why  yes,"  said  Peggy,  "and  you — well  upon 
my  life,  it  is  Mrs.  Bobbin!" 

She  had  hardly  got  these  words  out  of  her 
mouth  before  the  woman  had  hold  of  her  hand, 
squeezing  and  kissing  it,  and  crying  as  if  her  heart 
would  break. 

Peggy  finally  quieted  her,  and  heard,  briefly, 
her  story.  It  was  as  sad  a  recital  as  she  ever  list 
ened  to.  Mr.  Bobbin,  after  weeks  of  fever,  was  at 
the  door  of  death.  She  had  no  comforts  to  give 


358  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

him,  and  at  length,  after  exhausting  all  she  could 
spare  in  the  house  to  get  bread  and  meat  for  the 
family,  had  started  out  to  seek  help  from  the 
authorities.  Peggy  turned  with  a  full  heart  and 
walked  toward  their  humble  home.  She  gave 
Mrs,  Bobbin  money  to  purchase  some  immediate 
articles  of  food  and  medicine,  and  the  two  finally 
entered  the  house.  Peggy  looked  around  in  dis 
may.  The  room  where  they  stood  was  stripped 
of  everything.  Two  of  the  children  —  the  young 
est — were  playing  on  the  bare  floor,  while  an 
older  one  was  sitting  mournfully  by  a  door  that 
led  into  another  room,  weeping  bitterly.  He 
wiped  the  tears  from  his  face  with  a  sort  of  dig  of 
his  hand  as  they  entered,  and  then,  when  he  com 
prehended  that  help  had  really  come  at  last,  he 
broke  entirely  down,  and  leaned  over  the  window- 
casing  with  great  sobs  that  touched  Peggy  to  the 
heart.  Then  Mrs.  Bobbin  opened  the  door  of  a 
bed-room  and  took  Peggy  in.  On  the  thin  bed 
lay  Bobbin,  though  she  would  never  have  known 
him,  so  wasted  was  he,  lying  so  quietly  that  she 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  359 

thought  at  first  he  must  be  dead.  But  she  soon 
noticed  he  breathed,  and  she  sat  down  by  the  bed 
side. 

"Look!"  said  his  wife,  gently  rousing  him. 
"See  who's  come,  dear — one  you  used  to  know  so 
well." 

Bobbin  opened  his  eyes,  grown  very  large  and 
bright  now,  and  looked  at  his  visitor.  "  It's 
Peggy,"  he  whispered,  and  held  out  one  of  the 
wasted  hands,  or  tried  to,  which  Peggy  took  in  her 
own. 

"Yes,"  said  Peggy,  compassionately,  "I'm  so 
sorry  to  see  you  ill.  I  hope  you  will  be  better 
soon." 

She  held  her  face  near  his  to  hear  his  reply, 
which  he  tried  so  hard  to  make  strong. 

"  I  don't  mind  it,"  he  whispered,  trying  his  best 
to  smile,  and  with  the  old  feeling  of  regret  at  the 
possibility  of  his  troubling  any  one.  "I'm  very 
comfortable,  indeed.  But,  Peggy,"  with  a  great 
effort,  and  hesitatingly,  "  it's  them,  you  know,"  with 
a  glance  at  his  wife  and  children.  "I — I — don't 


360  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

know  what  will  become  of  them — so  far  away." 
He  could  say  no  more,  and  tears  stood  in  the 
great  eyes  as  he  ceased. 

"Please  don't  worry  at  all,"  said  Peggy.  "I 
have  plenty,  and  nobody  but  myself  to  look  after. 
I  will  take  care  of  them,  and  I  will  take  care  of 
you,  too,  until  you  get  well  and  strong,  and  then 
we  will  all  go  back  to  the  old  home  together." 

Bobbin  heard  her,  and  O !  what  a  shadow 
passed  from  his  face  as  the  welcome  truth  dawned 
upon  him.  He  tried  to  speak  again,  but  he  could 
not.  He  hid  his  face,  and  the  hot  tears  descended 
and  wet  his  pillow.  And  Peggy  held  his  hand  and 
watched.  As  she  gazed  upon  the  wasted  features 
old  remembrances  crowded  upon  her.  Some  way 
she  seemed  to  be  doing  a  service  to  Zach.,  to  her 
best  of  friends,  his  father,  to  all  back  in  her  little 
country  home,  as  well  as  to  her  own  charitable 
heart,  by  her  kindness  there.  The  many  little 
words  of  gentle  compassion  with  which  Bobbin 
had  greeted  her  in  those  days  when,  a  poor  neg 
lected  sprite,  she  had  toiled  in  the  little  public 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  361 

house  in  the  village,  all  came  back  to  her,  rousing 
a  grateful  feeling,  and  making  her  present  position 
seem  only  a  poor  return  for  his  kindness.  She 
had  at  first  been  disposed  to  censure  Zach.  for 
thus  permitting  an  old  acquaintance  to  die  in  pov 
erty  and  neglect,  but  when  it  was  explained  to  her 
that  by  Bobbin's  express  injunction  he  had  been 
kept  in  ignorance  of  it  all,  she  could  readily  for 
give  him.  And  so  she  watched. 

In  a  little  church,  the  rear  of  which  came  close 
to  the  room  where  she  sat,  some  kind  of  religious 
services  were  being  held,  and  the  tones  of  the 
singers  came  through  the  open  windows  almost 
like  angels'  voices. 

The  song  was  an  old  one,  familiar  to  Peggy, 
familiar  to  all  of  us,  the  outcropping  of  a  great 
poet's  reverence  and  humility,  but  Peggy  thought 
it  never  sounded  so  sweetly  before.  And  Bobbin 
heard  it,  too,  and  his  face  brightened  at  the  sound: 

Come  ye  disconsolate,  where'er  you  languish ; 

Come,  at  God's  altar  fervently  kneel. 
Here  bring  your  wounded  hearts,  here  tell  your  anguish ; 

Earth  has  no  sorrow  that  heaven  can  not  heal. 
16 


362  The  D.   G.  &  L,  Series. 

Ah,  Bobbin,  simple,  unoffending  as  you  were, 
what  need  you  had  of  that  consolation !  The 
words  rang  out  clear  and  distinct  on  the  soft  Sum 
mer  air,  and  Peggy  pressed  the  wasted  hand  closer 
as  she  listened : 

Joy  of  the  desolate,  Light  of  the  straying, 
Hope  when  all  others  die,  fadeless  and  pure. 

Here  speaks  the  comforter  in  God's  name,  saying, 
Earth  has  no  sorrow  that  heaven  can  not  cure. 

Was  it  so,  indeed?  Was  there  a  Power  above 
and  beyond  the  garish  pretensions  of  mortality 
that  could  reach  down  and  lift  this  poor,  unpre 
tending,  buffeted  soul  to  a  higher  than  human 
level?  Blessed  be  the  faith  that  leads  us  to 
believe  so. 

The  song  died  away  and  Bobbin  smiled,  and 
turned  his  gaze  upward,  as  if  he  would  penetrate 
the  thin  veil  that  hid  him  from  that  great  hope.  A 
look  of  peace  was  rapidly  taking  the  place  of  pain, 
and  ere  long  he  slept,  or  seemed  to  sleep,  the  pale 
face,  so  pinched,  and  thin,  and  quiet,  looking  like 
the  face  of  the  dead.  They  knew  what  was  com- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  363 

ing ;  the  physician  had  left  them  no  hope,  and  so 
they  sat  and  waited — waited  in  the  still  hours  of 
the  night,  and  in  the  dull  gray  of  the  morning, 
Peggy  watching  and  nursing,  never  tiring,  never 
flagging.  Mrs.  Bobbin  said  little,  but  she  sat  gaz 
ing  upon  her  husband  with  a  look  of  helpless 
grief  that  was  most  pitiful.  She  was  not  intelli 
gent  nor  acute,  as  the  world  goes,  but  suffering 
had  worn  away  the  grosser  part  of  her,  and 
touched  at  last  upon  true  ground.  And,  oh !  how 
her  woman's  heart  went  back  —  back  to  the  days 
when,  young  and  hopeful  —  for  all  have  hope  —  she 
and  Bobbin  had  started  out  upon  the  highway  of 
life,  expecting,  foolish  souls,  to  gather  only  the 
flowers  by  the  wayside  and  make  a  journey  of 
pleasure  till  they  reached  the  end.  And  as  she 
recalled  this,  into  even  her  dim  and  clouded  mind 
there  came  the  bitter  remembrances  that  press 
upon  all,  save  the  most  hardened,  who  stand  about 
the  bedside  of  a  dying  friend;  remembrances  of 
many  shortcomings  on  her  part  —  many  acts  of 
unkindness,  many  instances  of  neglect.  And  with 


364  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

these  came  also  the  virtues  of  the  sufferer,  obtrud 
ing  themselves,  obscuring-  every  fault,  hiding  every 
imperfection,  upbraiding  her  for  her  lack  of  appre 
ciation.  It  was  too  late  to  remedy  this  now,  and 
that  thought  was  the  severest  pang  of  all. 

As  the  day  crept  in  at  the  partially-drawn 
blinds,  Bobbin  turned  his  eyes  upon  Peggy,  and 
whispered  as  she  bent  her  ear,  "You  will  help 
them,  Peggy,"  and  Peggy  bowed  her  head,  and 
promised ;  and  then,  with  a  smile  upon  his  face,  he 
slept  again.  It  was  an  hour  after  when  suddenly 
he  awoke  —  awoke  as  if  a  new  life  had  come  upon 
him.  His  wife  came  to  him,  his  children  came  to 
him.  All  surrounded  his  bedside. 

"  It's  coming,"  he  said. 

"What  is  coming?"  said  Peggy,  softly. 

"The  light,"  he  answered,  "coming  so  swiftly." 

Away  off — it  seemed  so  far  away,  yet  so  near, 
it  was  so  plain  —  a  great  light  was  shining  upon 
him.  The  road  was  dark  on  either  side,  but  there 
was  the  light,  and  its  rays  fell  upon  his  face  and 
lighted  it  up  like  a  temple.  And  it  came  on,  on, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  365 

so  steadily,  so  silently,  so  swiftly !  Each  moment 
its  rays  grew  stronger.  He  turned  to  those  about 
him,  he  heard  words  of  tremulous  grief,  and  then 
he  looked  again  and  the  light  was  nearer.  He 
felt  his  thin  hand  pressed,  and  was  recalled  once 
more  to  earth ;  it  was  only  for  a  moment,  but 
when  he  looked  again  the  light  was  almost  there. 
Then  the  objects  about  him  lost  their  form,  the 
features  at  his  bedside  faded  into  indistinctness, 
and  the  great  beacon  was  shining  full  across  his 
radiant  face.  His  eyes  were  opened,  but  they  saw 
no  sight  save  that.  His  ears  were  unclogged,  but 
they  caught  no  sound  save  the  rushing  of  that 
awful  messenger.  And  then  it  was  THERE,  envel 
oping  him  like  a  mighty  cloud.  The  unearthly 
radiance  dimmed  his  eyes,  and  as  it  came  and 
passed,  poor  little  Bobbin  emptied  the  sunshine  of 
his  humble  life  into  the  great  blaze  of  eternity, 
and  passed  on  with  it. 

O,  beautiful  Life!  O,  still  more  beautiful 
Death!  when  the  golden  sun  of  Immortality  sheds 
its  beams  like  this — a  benediction  on  the  dying. 


366  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

*****  *** 
An  hour  later  and  there  crept  into  the  silent 
house  a  small  figure,  bent  and  sorrowful,  which 
glided  with  noiseless  step  to  the  room  where  Bob 
bin  lay.  It  was  Angelica.  Her  eyes  and  nose 
were  very  red,  and  she  carried  a  very  small 
bouquet  in  her  hand,  which  she  placed  in  the 
waxen  fingers  that  were  clasped  across  the  breast 
of  the  silent  figure.  It  was  a  trifling  tribute,  but 
it  came  from  a  heart  as  full  as  if  the  owner  had 
been  an  empress.  And  then  Angelica  stuffed  her 
apron  into  her  mouth,  put  one  hand  before  her 
eyes,  and  stole  quietly  away ;  stole  out  of  your 
sight  and  out  of  mine ;  stole  out  of  all  chronicles 
forevermore,  perhaps,  and  yet  who  shall  say  that 
in  the  great  reckoning  the  small  servant's  gift  may 
not  be  placed  alongside  many  a  grander  one  and 
not  be  dimmed  by  the  comparison  f 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  367 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

IN      WHICH      BARNCASTLE       MORALIZES,      AND       ZACH. 
MEETS    WITH    FURTHER    TROUBLE. 

It  was  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  July,  and  the 
streets  were  bright  with  light.  Rockets  were  soar 
ing,  candles  shooting,  crackers  snapping,  and  all 
the  confusion  incident  to  the  glorious  Fourth  was 
transpiring  in  the  usual  way.  Standing  in  front 
of  Willard's  Hotel  on  "the  avenue"  stood  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Barncastle.  He  leaned  upon  his  cane, 
and  surveyed  the  brilliant  scene  with  a  smile  of 
satisfaction.  "Tis  Independence  day,"  he  solilo 
quized.  "  Who  wouldn't  be  an  American  citizen  ? 
How  we  grow!  How  we  spread!  In  1776  the 
common  eagle,  taking  his  flight  from  the  extreme 
limit  of  Eastern  civilization,  would  have  traveled 
to  the  Western  limit  in  a  single  day ;  but  now  the 
proud  monarch  of  the  air,  dipping  himself  in  the 


368  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Atlantic,  and  then  looking  at  the  setting  sun,  ever 
intent  and  sailing  forward,  takes  days  before  he 
cools  his  pinions  in  the  sprays  of  the  grand 
Pacific.  And  yet  we  are  told  that  the  people  shall 
not  be  taxed  at  the  rate  of  three  and  a  half  cents 
each  for  the  celebration  of  the  country's  birthday! 
Despicable  meanness!  Intolerable  greed!  Why, 
for  this  our  fathers  went  barefooted,  and  forded 
rivers  with  the  thermometer  below  zero.  Noble 
men!  Unselfish  patriots!  There  was  principle, 
there  was  sediment  for  you.  "  Give  me,"  safd  Mr. 
Barncastle,  raising  his  voice,  and  speaking  earn 
estly,  "  Give  me  a  man  with  sediment  in  him  !  I 
don't  care  whether  his  hands  are  hard  with  dirty 
labor,  or  soft  from  playing  the  flute.  What  differ 
ence  whether  his  breeches  are  baggy  at  the  knees 
or  at  the  foot !  Who  cares  whether  his  shirt  is 
cut  bias,  so  to  speak,  or  with  a  patent  yoke  and  a 
collar  ?  Give  me  a  man  with  sand  in  his  gizzard, 
with  sediment  in  his  maw  —  that's  enough!" 

There  was  some  method  in   Barncastle's  mad 
ness —  rattle-headed  as  he  was. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  369 

As  he  stood  there  watching  the  display,  he  felt 
himself  touched  upon  the  arm,  and  looking  round 
saw  Hartwell. 

"  Fine  sight,"  said  the  latter,  looking  up  into 
the  lurid  sky. 

"Gorgeous,"  exclaimed  Barncastle.  "Observe 
the  ambitious  rocket.  How  it  goes  up  with  a  roar 
and  a  hiss,  with  everybody  to  watch  and  applaud, 
and  observe  how  it  creeps  back  silently,  as  if 
ashamed  after  all  its  sputtering  to  be  found  sneak 
ing  around  the  earth  again.  It  always  makes  the 
biggest  display,  too,  just  before  it  falls,  and  puts 
out  the  light  when  it  starts  downward,  so  that  no 
one  can  see  its  degradation.  But  I  know  it  conies 
down,  for  a  stick  hit  me  on  the  nose  a  while  ago. 
It  was  the  remains  of  a  brilliant  soarer,  but  it  only 
made  me  sneeze.  Pictures  of  men,  Mr.  Hartwell, 
pictures  of  me." 

Mr.  Barncastle  leaned  upon  his  cane  and  cast 
his  philosophical  eye  at  an  unusually  brilliant  dis 
play  of  colored  lights  in  front  of  the  Treasury 
Building. 

16*  Y 


370  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  Barncastle,"  said  Hartwell,  "  you  remember 
those  bonds." 

The  political  philosopher  only  looked  at  Hart- 
well  and  winked,  which  the  young  gentleman 
interpreted  to  mean  that  he  did  remember  them 
most  distinctly. 

"And  you  can  testify  as  to  what  became  of 
them  ?  "  said  Hartwell. 

Barncastle  again  winked,  this  time  putting  his 
finger  to  the  side  of  his  nose,  a  mysterious  per 
formance,  which  had  no  meaning  to  the  uninitiated, 
but  which  Hartwell  seemed  to  understand  most 
perfectly,  and  to  be  entirely  satisfied  with. 

"  I  may  want  to  use  you  as  a  witness,"  said 
Hartwell. 

"  All  right ;  all  right,"  replied  Barncastle,  again 
putting  his  finger  to  his  nose  and  looking  preter- 
naturally  wise.  (<  You  know  where  I  am,  eh  ?  " 

And  winking  again,  this  time  in  a  most  dia 
bolical  manner,  he  seized  his  cane  by  both  hands, 
leaned  up  against  a  lamp-post,  and  leered  know 
ingly  upon  Hartwell.  The  latter  seemed  well 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  371 

pleased,  patted  his  foot  on  the  pavement  for  a 
moment  approvingly,  and  then,  remarking  that 
Mr.  Barncastle  would  hear  from  him  again,  walked 
leisurely  up  the  street.  He  had  hardly  disap 
peared  when  Audley,  who  had  every  indication 
of  having  drank  a  little  too  freely,  accosted  Barn- 
castle. 

"  Where's  Mizzur  Hartwell?"  said  he,  looking 
round. 

Barncastle  regarded  the  young  man  with  lofty 
compassion. 

"  Wasn't  Mizzur  Hartwell  with  you  ?  "  said 
Audley. 

"  Yes,  my  unhappy  young  friend,"  responded 
Barncastle.  "  If  'twould  be  any  consolation  to 
you  in  your  melancholy  condition  to  know  it,  he 
was." 

"  See  year,  old  fellow,"  said  Audley,  "  I  ought 
to  know  your  face.  What's  the  matter  with  you  ? 
What's  the  —  what's  your  name  ?  " 

"Barncastle,  sir,"  said  that  gentleman,  with 
great  dignity.  "  My  card,  sir !  " 


372  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"All  right,  sir,"  said  Audley,  surveying  the  card 
stupidly;  "all  right,  Barn-Barn-castle.  Can  you 
tell  me  where  our  carriage  is,  Barn-castle?" 

"  What's  your  name  ?  "  said  the  latter. 

"That's  so,"  said  Audley,  slapping  Barncastle 
on  the  back.  "  Of  course  ;  you  don't  know  my 
name  —  Audley — G.  Henry  Audley." 

A  sudden  thought  seemed  to  take  possession 
of  Barncastle.  He  seized  Audley  by  the  hand 
and  wrung  it  with  great  warmth.  "Glad  to  meet 
you!"  he  exclaimed,  "Delighted!  Take  my 
carriage."  Here  Mr.  Barncastle  stopped  and 
looked  around  as  if  seeking  for  his  coach  and 
servant.  "  Where  are  the  rascals  ? "  he  said. 
"  Upon  my  word,  yonder  they  go  whirling  down 
the  street!  They  must  be  drunk  !" 

"  Oh,  im-imbossible !  "  exclaimed  Audley,  sol 
emnly. 

"They  are, "  said  Barncastle,  "positively 
drunk.  Never  mind,"  he  added,  "  we  can  go  afoot 
like  honest  plebeians.  Where  do  you  want  to 
go?" 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  373 

"  I  don't  know,"  responded  Audley,  taking  him 
by  the  arm.  "  Do  you  ?  " 

"  Well,  we'll  take  the  avenue  and  go  where  we 
please,"  said  Barncastle,  and,  linked  together  like  a 
yard  of  satin  and  a  piece  of  faded  cambric,  they 
started  down  the  street. 

"  Stop,"  said  Audley,  suddenly.  "  Hold  on, 
Barncastle.  Here  comes  a  friend  of  mine." 

As  he  spoke  Barncastle  looked  ahead  and  per 
ceived  Zach.  approaching  them.  He  had  his  head 
bent  downward,  his  eyes  were  upon  the  ground, 
and  he  hurried  along  as  if  eager  to  get  out  of  the 
glare  and  tumult. 

"  Hello,  old  boy,"  said  Audley,  intercepting  him. 
"  How  are  you  ?  How's  everything  ?  " 

Zach.  stopped,  evidently  far  from  pleased  at  the 
encounter,  but  submitting  per  force. 

"  This  here,"  said  Audley,  tugging  at  Barn 
castle,  "  is  my  friend — my  intimate  friend,  Colonel, 
Colonel — -What  is  it  now  (hie),  eh?" 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  of  knowing  Mr.  Martin," 


374  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

said  Barncastle,  putting  out  his  hand  with  a  mix 
ture  of  cordiality  and  reserve. 

Zach.  took  his  hand.  "So  you  have,"  he  said. 
"Well,  Barncastle,  there  are  bigger  scoundrels  than 
you  in  Washington.  You  take  a  man's  money, 
but  they  steal  his  honor  and  his  reputation.  By 
the  side  of  a  stealthy  slanderer  and  liar,  you're  a 
saint." 

Barncastle  was  evidently  troubled  for  fear 
Audley  would  gain  a  bad  impression  of  him,  and 
he  winked  to  Zach.  as  he  replied  :  "  We  have  had 
our  disagreements,  Mr.  Martin,  but  on  the  whole  I 
believe  we  have  treated  each  other  honorably.  I 
am  sure  that  for  my  part  I  can  speak  nothing  but 
praise  of  you  to  our  mutual  friend  Audley." 

"You're  both  good  fellers,"  said  Audley,  ener 
getically;  "both  of  you  —  le's  be  friends  —  all  of 
us." 

"  Martin,"  said  Barncastle,  extending  his  hand, 
"  I  forgive  you  —  I  forget  everything.  Let  us,  in 
obedience  to  our  mutual  friend's  injunction,  cry 
quits  and  beoin  anew." 

A  O 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  375 

Zach.  thought  the  proposition  rather  cool,  con 
sidering  the  circumstances,  but  Audley  was  enthu 
siastic  over  the  proposition.  He  seemed  to  think 
he  had  healed  an  estrangement,  and  brought  two 
old  but  alienated  friends  together.  He  insisted 
upon  their  shaking  hands  again,  and  blessed  them 
as  he  saw  their  palms  touch. 

"Now,  come  on,"  said  he,  triumphantly.  "  Now 
it's  all  made  up — le's  go  and  watch  the  (hie) 
rockets." 

Zach.  was  about  to  excuse  himself,  when  Barn- 
castle  interrupted.  "Stop,"  said  he,  "let  me  call  a 
carriage.  Come  home  with  me  and  have  a  glass 
of  wine." 

He  began  fumbling  in  his  pockets.  "  How 
unfortunate,"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  must  have  left 
my  portmonnaie  at  home.  My  dear  Audley, 
might  I  ask  the  loan  of  a  five  until  I  reach  the 
house?" 

Audley  put  his  hand  unsteadily  in  his  vest 
pocket  and  took  out  a  "  ten." 

"  Never    mind,"  said    Barncastle,   "ten  will  do 


376  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

just  as  well.  Come,  gentlemen,  ride  with  me  ; 
ride  with  me." 

He  took  an  arm  of  each,  and  Zach.  was  begin 
ning  to  expostulate,  and  to  say  that  it  would  be 
impossible,  when  a  gentleman  stepped  up  and 
touched  the  latter  on  the  arm.  Zach.  turned  and 
confronted  a  Deputy  Sergeant -at -Arms  of  the 
House.  "I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Martin,"  said  he, 
"  but  I  am  directed  to  summon  you  before  the 
Select  Investigating  Committee,  now  sitting  at 
the  Capitol." 

Zach.  bowed  his  head,  and  then  said  —  for  he 
had  had  some  reason  to  expect  that  he  might  be 
so  summoned  :  "  Do  you  know  if  there  is  a  charge 
against  me?" 

"There  is,"  said  the  officer. 

"What  is  it?"  inquired  Zach. 

"  Bribery,"  responded  the  officer. 

Zach.  said  nothing,  but  there  was  a  look  upon 
his  face  which  even  Audley  and  Barncastle 
respected  as  they  stood  silently  and  saw  him 
walk  away. 


Zackariah,  the  Congressman.  377 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

MR.    AND     MRS.    MARTIN     PREPARE     FOR     A     JOURNEY, 
AND    ZACH.    HAS    A    TRIAL. 

It  was  as  much  as  two  weeks  after  this  when  a 
letter  was  received  at  the  old  home  from  Peggy. 
It  recited  briefly  that  Zach.  was  ill  and  in  great 
trouble,  and  besought  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin 
to  come  on  to  Washington  at  once.  It  was  the 
third  day  after  the  receipt  of  the  letter,  and  John 
was  at  the  door  with  the  old-fashioned  carriage  to 
take  them  to  the  depot.  They  were  greatly 
excited,  and  in  deep  confusion  with  their  prepara 
tions,  which  were  of  the  most  comical  description. 
Mr.  Martin  was  sitting  with  his  hat  on,  but  with 
only  one  boot,  and  was  gazing  around  anxiously 
for  the  other  one. 

"Where's    my    other     boot?"    he    exclaimed. 


378  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"  Dang  it !  I  believe  half  my  clothes  '11  be  left 
laying  'round  the  house  when  we  start." 

"I  knew  it!"  said  Mrs.  Martin.  "The  man's  had 
three  days  to  get  ready,  and  he  ain't  no  nearer  it 
than  he  was  afore.  And  thare  that  poor  boy  is  a 
sufferin'  among  strangers." 

"These  women  know  everything,"  said  Mr. 
Martin,  adopting  his  wife's  plan,  and  addressing  an 
imaginary  third  person.  "Three  days  to  start  off 
on  a  journey  of  hundreds  of  miles,  and  not  a  soul 
'round  to  see  to  the  cattle  or  'tend  to  anything.  I 
expect  to  see  'em  all  dead  and  the  house  burnt  up, 
more'n  likely,  before  we  get  back.  And  yet  that 
woman  talks  about  getting  ready." 

"There's  your  boot,"  said  Mrs.  Martin,  drawing 
it  out  from  under  a  lounge,  and  throwing  it  across 
the  room  to  him.  "  Now  put  it  on." 

Mr.  Martin  drew  on  the  boot  and  stood  up  and 
brushed  the  sleeve  of  his  coat  with  his  hand. 

"  How  you  do  look,  any  way!"  said  Mrs.  Martin, 
surveying  him. 

"How  I  do  look!"  he  repeated.     "Well,  what's 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  379 

the  matter  with  me?  Hain't  I  in  misery  enough 
with  this  coat  and  these  breeches  on,  without  your 
harping  about  it?  They  looked  plenty  good  for 
you  once." 

"  Yes,  forty  years  ago,"  said  Mrs.  Martin. 

"  Well,"  he  answered,  "  I've  kept  'em  in  a  drawer 
and  ain't  worn  'em  more'n  twice  since,  and  what's 
the  matter  with  'em?  When  I  went  away  to  New 
York  alone,  a  while  ago,  they  looked  well  enough." 

"I'm  sure  I  don't  know,"  said  she;  "but  some 
way  you  look  all  out  o'  shape,  kinder." 

"  Well,j}/<?^  look  brisk  enough,"  he  replied,  sar 
castically,  "so  what's  the  difference?" 

"I'm  thankful  that  I  do,"  said  she. 

"Yes,  you'll  cut  a  big  swell,"  he  returned. 
"  You'll  set  the  fashions,  I  expect.  Come  on  now, 
if  you  are  ready,"  and  Mr.  Martin  gathered  a  big 
portmanteau  and  started. 

"Have  you  got  everything?"  said  she.  "What's 
the  camphire  in?" 

"Come  on,"  he  exclaimed  ;  "I'm  sweatin'  like  a 
porpoise.  Where's  the  tickets?"  Mr.  Martin  put 


380  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

down  the  luggage  and  dived  into  his  pocket,  when, 
having  found  an  envelope,  and  opened  and  looked 
in  it,  took  up  his  package  again  and  started. 

"Ah,  this  traveling!"  he  groaned.      "It's   the 

last  time  I •"  but  Mrs.  Martin  gave  him  a  push 

out  of  the  open  door  and  stopped  his  vow  never 
to  travel  more. 

As  before  remarked,  Mr.  Richard  Hartwell  was 
determined  to  put  Zach.  beyond,  the  hope  of 
recovering  his  former  place  ;  but  this  was  not  all 
the  reason  for  his  vindictive  pursui  of  the  latter. 
Though  he  was  anxious  and  quite  determined  to 
ruin  Zach.  irretrievably,  he  probably  would  have 
made  no  extra  exertions  in  that  direction  after 
defeating  him  and  breaking  up  his  prospective 
marriage,  had  not  another  circumstance  in  a 
measure  compelled  him  to  this  course.  One  step 
in  wrong-doing  generally  leads  to  another,  and  it 
was  so  in  Hartwell's  case.  We  have  stated  that 
the  charges  of  bribery  figured  very  prominently  in 
the  convention  which  overwhelmed  Zach.  These 
charges  could  not  stand  long,  however,  without 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  381 

something  tangible  on  which  to  rest,  and  so,  when 
the  latter's  friends  indignantly  pronounced  them 
false  and  demanded  proofs,  facts,  suspicious  to  say 
the  least,  were  adduced  that  silenced,  if  they  did 
not  convince,  his  adherents.  Zach.  heard  of  these 
direct  charges  too  late  to  meet  them  before  the 
convention,  and,  as  before  stated,  the  fact  that  any 
explanation  would  involve  Belle  in  disagreeable 
prominence,  operated  to  silence  him,  even  had  he 
been  otherwise  prepared  to  explain.  Of  course 
these  charges  at  home  came  through  Spiker,  who 
really  believed  them  to  be  true,  though  their  truth 
or  falsity  made  very  little  difference  to  him,  so 
long  as  they  answered  his  purpose.  But  such 
serious  allegations  could  not  escape  the  keen  eyes 
of  the  Opposition,  and  so  it  followed  that  an 
investigating  committee,  before  whom  other  cases 
of  a  similar  character  were  being  examined,  were 
charged  with  the  duty  of  looking  into  this  also. 
They  wrote  to  Spiker,  and  Spiker  referred  them  to 
Hartwell;  and  so,  one  day,  the  latter,  rather  to  his 
surprise,  was  summoned  before  the  committee  to 


382  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

give  his  evidence.  Belle  was  also  called  upon,  and 
stated  that  she  wrote  the  note  which  Hartwell  sent 
through  Barncastle,  at  the  former's  suggestion  and 
dictation,  and  that  she  really  had  no  definite  idea 
of  what  she  meant  by  the  word  "  consideration " 
used  in  the  letter.  She  knew  afterward  that  cer 
tain  bonds  had  been  inclosed  in  her  note,  and  sup 
posed  it  had  reference  to  them.  Thus  matters 
stood  when  Hartwell  was  summoned. 

In  the  meantime  a  curious  knot  in  this  con 
spiracy  was  being  unraveled  in  an  entirely  differ 
ent  manner,  and  by  persons  entirely  independent 
of  the  committee.  When  Barncastle  and  Audley 
saw  Zach.  walk  away,  after  meeting  the  officer  of 
the  House,  as  narrated  in  the  last  chapter,  they 
fell  into  quite  a  confidential  chat  about  him. 
Barncastle  shrewdly  guessed  that  the  case  spoken 
of  was  the  one  alluded  to  by  Hartwell,  in  which  he 
was  to  play  the  part  of  a  witness,  and,  winking 
mysteriously  to  Audley,  he  informed  that  gentle 
man  that  he  (Barncastle)  knew  all  about  it,  and 
that  he  was  the  only  person  living  who  could,  ?s 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  383 

he  expressed  it, "  break  the  gyves  of  slavery  and  set 
the  captive  free."  Audley  was  intoxicated,  and 
more  than  usually  silly  when  he  heard  it,  but 
strange  enough  he  remembered  the  words,  and  in 
some  way  must  have  repeated  them,  for  it  was  only 
the  second  day  after  this  that  he  could  have 
been  seen  walking  arm  in  arm  with  Barncastle 
toward  the  studio  of  Miss  Cristopher,  and  finally 
escorting  that  gentleman  triumphantly  into  the 
presence  of  the  lady  herself. 


In  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  Capitol  the  investi 
gating  committee  were  engaged  in  examining  the 
charges  against  Zach.  The  witness  chair  was 
occupied  by  Hartwell,  and  the  Chairman  was 
engaged  in  questioning  him. 

"What  did  you  understand  these  bonds  to  be 
given  to  Mr.  Martin  for,  Mr.  Hartwell  ?".  said  the 
Chairman. 

"  I  would  rather  not  state,  sir,"  replied  the  wit 
ness.  Here  was  an  evident  attempt  to  shield  the 


384  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

accused,  and  the  committee  glanced  significantly 
at  one  another. 

"We  must  insist  upon  an  answer,"  said  the 
Chairman. 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  witness,  "  I  knew  they 
were  sent  to  him  to  pay  for  the  appointment  men 
tioned." 

Zach.  clenched  his  hands  nervously  at  this,  and 
bit  his  lips  till  the  blood  came. 

"  Mr.  Martin  states,"  continued  the  Chairman, 
"that  he  had  only  seven  thousand  dollars  in  bonds, 
and  these  he  purchased  of  you,  paying  dollar  for 
dollar  for  them.  Is  this  true?" 

"It  is  not,  sir,"  responded  Hartwell.  "The 
bonds  were  obtained  of  me  by  another  person, 
and  I  was  instructed  to  send  them  to  Martin, 
which  I  did." 

"  That  will  do,"  said  the  Chairman ;  "  Mr.  Mar 
tin,  have  you  anything  further  to  offer?  " 

"  Not  now,"  said  Zach.,  very  despairingly. 
"This  investigation  has  been  so  sudden  that  I 
have  had  no  time  to  collect  my  evidence.  Mr. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  385 

Hartwell  gave  me  a  receipt  for  the  seven  thousand 
dollars,  which  I  have  mislaid.  I  told  him  of  its 
loss,  and  he  promised  me  a  duplicate,  but  never 
gave  it.  If  he  had  not  been  aware  that  I  had  lost 
the  paper  he  would  not  have  given  the  evidence 
you  have  just  heard." 

"Mr.  Martin,"  said  the  Chairman,  taking  some 
papers  from  the  table  and  examining  them;  "we 
can  only  judge  by  what  is  before  us.  We  find  the 
following  documents  in  evidence :  First,  a  note  to 
you  asking  you  to  make  a  certain  appointment, 
and  evidently,  from  its  tone,  inclosing  other  papers 
of  value.  The  writer  asks,  significantly,  if  the 
consideration  is  sufficient,  and  you  reply  in  a  note, 
also  in  evidence,  that  it  is.  The  lady  who  wrote 
you  that  note,  for  whom  the  appointment  was 
made,  testifies  that  the  "consideration"  was  fur 
nished  by  another  person.  It  is  evident  by  her 
manner,  however,  that  she  expected  to  influence 
you.  A  few  days  after  we  find  that  you  obtained 
the  appointment.  What  was  the  consideration  to 
which  both  the  writer  of  the  note  and  you  allude? 

17  Z 


386  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

We  have  the  evidence  of  Mr.  Hartwell  that  it  was 
twelve  thousand  dollars  in  bonds  of  the  Nan- 
tucket  Insurance  Company.  We  find  on  the 
books  of  the  company  that  amount  transferred  to 
you.  You  confess  to  possessing  seven  thousand 
dollars  of  these  bonds,  and  have  nothing  but  your 
own  unsupported  word  to  show  that  you  did  not 
receive  the  remainder.  We  are  extremely  sorry, 
but  our  duty  is  plain.  The  crime  proved  against 
you  is  punishable  by  the  courts,  which  we  leave  to 
deal  with  you.  As  you  know,  the  statutes  declare 
that  for  such  an  offense  a  person  shall  be  fined  in 
a  sum  equal  to  three  times  the  amount  asked, 
accepted  or  received  by  him,  and  be  imprisoned 
for  a  term  of  three  years.  This,  however,  as 
before  stated,  is  a  matter  to  be  decided  by  the 
courts.  As  for  us,  we  feel  it  incumbent  upon  us 
to  state  to  you  frankly  that  we  must  report  in 
favor  of  your  expulsion  from  the  House." 

Zach.  sat  silent  and  very  pale.  He  was  revolv 
ing  the  utter  ruin  and  disgrace  that  had  overtaken 
him.  This,  then,  was  the  end  of  his  bright  hopes, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  387 

his  great  ambition.  This  was  what  statesmanship 
had  cost  him,  and  while  he  sat  there,  came  sound 
ing  in  his  ears  the  words  of  his  father,  uttered 
three  years  before— 

"  However  bright  the  outside  of  this  public 
life  may  look  it  is  full  of  trial  and  disappointment, 
and  it  may  come  to  you,  Zach.,  it  may  come  to 
you." 

Alas,  it  had  come  to  him,  crushing  him  to  the 
very  earth,  and  still  the  threatening  clouds  lowered 
upon  him.  Forcing  down  his  emotion  as  best  he 
could,  Zach.  spoke  briefly  and  very  simply  to  the 
committee. 

"  I  acknowledge,"  said  he,  "  that  the  evidence 
produced  against  me  looks  positive  and  over 
whelming.  I  would  not  have  believed  it  possible 
that  circumstances  could  so  surround  with  an 
appearance  of  guilt  an  absolutely  innocent  man. 
For  I  am  innocent,  as  innocent,  gentlemen,  as  you 
who  sit  in  judgment  upon  me.  Heaven  knows 
that  I  never  had  the  remotest  idea  of  such  a  crime 
-—much  less  committed  it.  This  man  Hartwell  is 


388  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

a  perjured  hypocrite.  Aye ! "  said  Zach.,  turning 
as  the  subject  of  his  denunciation  moved  uneasily 
in  his  seat.  "  I  repeat  it.  A  perjured  hypocrite ; 
a  man  who  has  bartered  his  honor,  his  very  soul, 
to  advance  some  scheme  which  he  thinks  to  com 
pass  by  my  downfall.  Some  day  the  truth  will  be 
revealed.  Some  day  he  shall  stand  out  with  his 
mask  stripped  from  him,  and  his  iniquity  blazoned 
to  the  world.  Be  it  a  part  of  my  task  to  see  this 
thoroughly  and  completely  done." 

The  earnestness  and  apparent  truthfulness  of 
Zach.'s  manner  impressed  the  committee  deeply, 
and  Hartwell  seemed  to  creep  into  himself  and 
shudder  as  he  heard  the  determination  expressed 
to  unearth  his  rascality.  For  the  time  being,  how 
ever,  the  case  seemed  ended,  and  they  prepared  to 
leave,  all  save  Zach.,  who,  now  that  the  excitement 
of  his  speech  had  subsided,  sat  moody  and  despair 
ing,  gazing  blankly  at  the  wall.  Suddenly  the 
door  of  the  committee-room  opened  and  a  mes 
senger  hastily  appeared,  who  addressed  the 
Chairman.  A  lady  was  at  the  door  who 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  389 

asked  to  be  admitted,  and  announced  herself 
as  a  witness. 

"  A  lady,"  exclaimed  the  Chairman,  with  sur 
prise. 

"Yes,  sir,"  returned  the  messenger,  "and  she 
says  her  evidence  is  very  important." 

The  Chairman  looked  from  one  member  of  the 
committee  to  the  other,  and  then,  by  common 
consent,  they  all  took  their  seats,  and  the  mes 
senger  was  told  to  show  the  lady  in. 

Zach.  had  lifted  his  head,  as  had  Hartwell,  at 
the  announcement,  and  both  sat  gazing  with 
curiosity  toward  the  entrance.  Before  they 
had  much  time  to  reflect  the  door  opened  again, 
and  there  before  Zach.'s  astounded  vision  stood 
Peggy  —  Peggy  as  of  old,  a  little  fuller  in  form 
and  feature,  perhaps,  but  the  old  Peggy,  in  her 
simple  dress  and  unpretending  braids,  her  eyes  full 
of  tears,  her  face  full  of  determination.  Zach. 
looked  once  —  rubbed  his  eyes  as  if  he  could  not 
trust  them  —  and  looked  again,  and  then  forget 
ting  everything  else,  his  own  peril,  his  great  wrong 


390  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

to  Peggy,  the  proprieties  of  the  occasion,  all,  save 
the  fact  that  she  stood  there  before  him,  jumped 
to  his  feet,  and  gaining  her  side  at  one  great 
bound,  took  her  bodily,  forcibly  in  his  arms,  and 
hugged  her  with  an  intensity  that  would  have 
been  ludicrous  had  it  not  been  so  impassioned. 
The  committee  sat  amazed  spectators  of  this 
scene,  and  wondering  what  it  all  meant.  Peggy 
released  herself  as  soon  as  possible,  all  but  her 
hands,  which  Zach.  insisted  upon  retaining,  while 
he  looked  in  her  eyes  wonderingly,  inquiringly, 
appealingly.  Such  a  meeting  after  all  these 
years ! 

"  What  does  this  mean,  Peggy,"  he  said.  "  What 
has  brought  you  to  me  now?" 

"Wait!"  said  she,  hurriedly.  "Another  time 
and  I  will  explain.  Is  it  true  that  they  are  trying 
to  convict  you,  Zach.  ?  " 

This  brought  the  situation  back  to  him.  He 
had  absolutely  forgotten  it  in  his  great  joy,  and  he 
bowed  his  head  as  he  answered  : 

"  They  have  convicted  me,  Peggy." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  391 

Peggy's  eyes  flashed.  "If  I  have  heard  the 
story  correctly,"  she  said  to  the  committee,  "  I  can 
give  important  testimony  in  the  case.  Can  I 
become  a  witness?" 

The  Chairman  indicated  that  they  were  ready 
to  hear  her,  and  she  was  sworn,  and  told  to  relate 
her  knowledge  of  the  affair.  She  stated  the  facts 
very  briefly  and  concisely. 

"Nearly  three  years  ago,"  said  Peggy,  "  Mr. 
Martin  through  mistake,  doubtless,  sent  this  paper 
to  me  in  a  letter.  It  tells  its  own  story,  and  I  sub 
mit  it  for  examination.  It  bears  the  seal  of  the 
Nantucket  Insurance  Company,  and  is  a  receipt 
by  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Hartwell,  for  seven  thousand 
dollars  paid  him  by  Zachariah  Martin." 

The  committee  took  the  paper  and  examined 
it  eagerly.  "  It  certainly  is  an  authenticated 
receipt,"  said  the  Chairman.  "  What  have  you  to 
say  to  this,  Mr.  Hartwell  ? "  The  latter  was 
dumbfounded  and  only  hung  his  head.  The 
Chairman  continued:  "This  certainly  explains 
the  seven  thousand  dollars,  Mr.  Martin.  If  you 


392  The  D.   G.   &  L.  Series. 

had  a  witness  regarding  the  remaining  five  thou 
sand  dollars  we  could  rejoice  with  you." 

Zach.  sat,  half  stupefied,  in  his  chair,  but  said 
nothing. 

"  If  you  will  permit  me,"  said  Peggy,  "  I  have 
another  witness  at  the  door.  Shall  I  call  him?" 

"Certainly,"  responded  the  Chairman. 

Peggy  went  to  the  door  and  looked  out.  Then 
she  disappeared  partially  and  appeared  to  hold  a 
consultation  with  some  one  outside.  Finally  she 
reappeared,  escorting  the  smiling  but  stately  Mr. 
Barncastle. 

He  came  in  with  a  great  flourish  and  evidently 
in  a  very  happy  frame  of  mind. 

"Well,  well  !  this  is  a  pleasure,"  said  he,  walk 
ing  forward  with  an  airy  swing  to  where  the  mem 
bers  of  the  committee  sat.  "  This  is  an  honor. 
Gentlemen  !  they  may  talk  about  the  labors  of  a 
member  being  light  and  his  pay  excessive.  Bosh ! 
Nonsense  !  The  arduous  service  that  you  perform 
on  an  absurd  stipend  of  five  thousand  dollars  a 
year,  excluding  mileage,  stationery,  and  news- 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  393 

papers,  is  astounding.  Gentlemen,  some  of  you 
venerable  in  years,  all  venerable  in  attainments,  if 
I  were  called  upon  to  express  an  opinion — " 

Mr.  Barncastle  was  going  on  very  enthusias 
tically  when  the  Chairman  interrupted  him. 

"There,  there,  Mr.  Barncastle!  Never  mind 
this,"  said  that  functionary.  "  If  you  have  any 
evidence  to  give  in  this  case  we  shall  be  pleased 
to  hear  it." 

"Certainly,"  returned  Barncastle.  He  stopped 
talking  for  a  moment,  but  went  to  work  very  indus 
triously  shaking  hands  with  the  members  of  the 
committee,  until  he  finally  broke  forth  again : 
"  Here  I  find  you,"  said  he,  falling  back  a  pace  or 
two,  and  surveying  the  committee  as  a  whole. 
"  Here  I  find  you  organized,  laboring  for  the  cause 
—  discharging  the  solemn  duties  of  office,  earning 
the  gratitude  of  your  constituents,  seeking  for  the 
applause  of  the  populace,  meriting  the  favor  of 
your  countrymen,  and  challenging  the  admiration 
of  mankind.  A  beautiful  sight ;  an  impressive 

spectacle.     Egad !    talk    of    us    as   they    may,   we 
17* 


394  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

deserve  our  honors;  we  do,  gentlemen,  If  it  were 
not  for  us,  look  at  the  country  !  Who  would  pro 
tect  it  ?  Who  would  preserve  it  ?  Who  would 
organize  it  ?  and  without  organization,  if  you  will 
permit  me  to  suggest  a  few  thoughts,  gentlemen, 
without  organization — " 

Mr.  Barncastle  was  again  going  on  at  a  rattling 
pace  and  threatening  never  to  stop,  when  the 
Chairman  again  interrupted  him. 

"I  beg  pardon,"  said  Barncastle,  "but  my 
delight  at  meeting  you,  banishes  for  a  moment 
that  humility  which  becomes  the  humble  witness 
in  the  presence  of  an  august  tribunal.  Swear  me." 

Mr.  Barncastle  was  thereupon  sworn,  and  took 
the  witness  chair  with  an  air  of  charming  confi 
dence, 

"You  may  state,  Mr.  Barncastle,"  said  the 
Chairman,  "what  you  know  about  certain  bonds 
of  the  Nantucket  Insurance  Company  said  to  be 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Martin,  and  numbered 
from  three  hundred  to  three  hundred  and  fifty, 
inclusive." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  395 

"Willingly,"  answered  Barncastle.  "Gentle 
men,  I  have  rooms  in  the  house  of  an  impover 
ished,  but  respectable  widow  lady  named  Dabster." 

"Never  mind  that,"  exclaimed  the  Chairman. 

"  But  I  must  mind  that,"  returned  Barncastle, 
with  a  charming  smile  of  complacency,  "in  order 
that  you  may  mind  what  I  am  about  to  say." 

"Well,  go  on,"  returned  the  Chairman. 

"One  evening,  Dabster  ushered  into  my  pres 
ence  a  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Hartwell.  From 
the  expression  of  his  back,"  said  Barncastle,  gazing 
over  into  the  corner,  "  and  you  know  backs  have  a 
certain  expression,  I  should  say  that  the  gentle 
man  yonder,  who  seems  to  be  chewing  his  tooth 
pick,  is  the  same  man.  He  came,  he  said,  knowing 
my  influence  and  extensive  acquaintance  with 
members  of  Congress,  to  consult  me  about  an 
appointment.  He  asked  me  as  to  the  first  neces 
sary  step.  'Mr.  Hartwell,'  I  answered, ' the  experi 
ence  of  many  years  has  taught  me  that  the  first 
thing  to  do  in  such  cases  is  to  organize !'  Organi 
zation,  if  you  will  permit  me,  gentlemen,  is  the 


396  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

first  thing  to  be  considered  in  any  enterprise. 
If  you  are  going  to  build  a  railroad,  tunnel  a 
mountain,  build  a  ship-canal,  obtain  a  land  grant, 
conquer  a  difficulty,  or  celebrate  a  triumph,  you 
must  organize.  Organization,  I  insist  — 

"  Mr.  Barncastle,"  said  the  Chairman,  "  will  you 
please  confine  yourself  to  the  evidence  in  this 
case  ? " 

"Certainly,"  he  replied;  "forgive  the  temporary 
digression.  To  summarize,  Mr.  Hartwell  employed 
me  as  a  sort  of  attorney  to  present  Mr.  Martin  a 
letter  and  at  the  same  time  five  thousand  dollars 
in  bonds  of  the  Nantucket  Insurance  Company." 

"  And  you  presented  them  ? "  queried  the 
Chairman. 

"  I  did  not,"  said  Mr.  Barncastle,  emphatically. 
"At  least  not  the  bonds;  the  letter  I  did." 

Hartwell  gave  a  great  heave  with  his  shoulders 
at  this  evidence,  while  Zach.,  for  the  first  time, 
raised  his  head. 

"  At  first  blush,"  continued  Barncastle,  "  it 
occurred  to  me  that  I  might  do  so  without  violating 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  397 

my  sense  of  honor ;  but  there  was  a  latent  fear  of 
bribery  lurking  in  my  bosom,  and  I  spurned  the 
temptation.  I  continued  to  reside  beneath  the 
humble  roof  of  Dabster,  pure  as  when  I  first 
entered  that  abode  of  molasses  and  innocence." 

"  You  returned  the  bonds,  then  ?  "  inquired  the 
Chairman. 

"  I  did  not,"  replied  Barncastle  once  more, 
emphatically.  "  Regarding  them  as  contraband  of 
war,  I  confiscated  them.  I  offered  them  as  col 
lateral  several  times,  but,  gentlemen,  those  bonds 
were  glittering  baubles.  I  tried  to  sell  them, 
determined  to  turn  the  proceeds  over  to  the  pub 
lic  treasury,  but  they  were  worth  less  in  the  market 
than  an  ordinary  I  O  U.  Finally  they  all  settled 
into  my  hands,  and  here  before  this  august  tri 
bunal  I  now  produce  them." 

Barncastle  reached  behind,  and  took  from  the 
tail  of  his  coat  a  package,  and,  rising,  said  with  a 
tragic  air  : 

"  Behold  the  missing  bonds." 

"There   is    no    mistake,"   said    the    Chairman, 


398  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

examining  them.  "  They  are  indeed  the  identical 
bonds.  Martin,  we  congratulate  you." 

The  committee  approached  Zach.,  and  shook 
hands  with  him  heartily,  during  which  time  Hart- 
well,  with  a  scowl  of  mingled  rage  and  fear,  crept 
from  the  room.  Zach.  received  the  congratulations 
of  the  committee  in  a  sort  of  stupor,  seeming 
not  to  fully  comprehend  the  situation.  When 
they  were  through  he  sat  down  again,  gazing 
vacantly  at  the  wall,  while  Peggy  regarded  him 
from  the  other  side  of  the  room  with  a  mixture  of 
doubt  and  tenderness  hard  to  express  in  words. 

Barncastle  was  in  the  highest  spirits.  He 
beamed  and  smiled  in  turn  upon  everybody  in  the 
room.  He  took  pains  before  Hartwell  left  to  glow 
with  satisfaction  on  that  gentleman,  and  remind 
him  of  the  "  one  hundred  dollars  additional " 
which  he  had  promised  the  witness  when  the 
latter  gave  his  testimony.  He  received  in  return 
a  scowl  which  appeared  to  please  him  wonderfully, 
In  the  hand-shaking  Mr.  Barncastle  was  in  his 
element.  He  insisted  upon  grasping  hands  all 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  399 

'round,  and  took  occasion  to  mention  some  little 
pecuniary  obligations  which  he  was  under  to  the 
committee,  and  which  he  begged  them  to  forgive 
and  forget. 

"  This,"  said  he,  seizing  the  Chairman  by  the 
hand  and  wringing  it  till  the  tears  stood  in  that 
gentleman's  eyes,  "  this  is  a  proud  moment.  In 
the  hour  of  vindicated  integrity  let  us  forget  and 
cancel  all  pecuniary  obligations.  Let  us  cast  them 
from  us  as  unworthy  of  us."  The  gentlemen  said 
very  good,  and  then  all,  divining  that  Zach.  and 
Peggy  might  have  something  to  say  to  each  other 
which  it  would  be  embarrassing  to  speak  before 
strangers,  withdrew. 

Still  Zach.  sat  there,  bewildered,  thunderstruck, 
half  unable  to  appreciate  his  good  fortune.  Back 
of  it  all,  too,  came  the  thought  —  piercing  him  like 
a  knife  and  filling  him  with  shame  and  penitence 
and  humiliation  —  that  here  was  the  woman  he 
had  so  grossly  misconceived,  so  cruelly  wronged, 
so  heartlessly  forsaken,  standing  between  him 
and  destruction.  The  pain  was  almost  as  great 


4OO  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

as  it  was  a  few  minutes  before,  when  he  had 
sunk  despairing  in  his  seat,  convicted  of  a  felony. 
If  Zach.  had  known  it,  the  feeling  was  the  best 
evidence  of  manhood  that  he  could  have  exhibited. 
A  villain  or  a  fool  would  have  accepted  the  service 
without  a  twinge. 

Pretty  soon  Peggy  crossed  to  where  he  was 
and  crouched  beside  him. 

"  You  need  not  fear,"  she  said,  softly.  "  I  do  not 
come  to  reproach  you  or  to  embarrass  you. 
Simply  to  do  my  duty,  that's  all." 

Zach.  fairly  writhed  under  these  words.  He 
struggled  to  conquer  his  emotion,  but  could  not, 
and  finally,  losing  all  command  of  himself — man, 
statesman  as  he  was — broke  down  entirely,  and 
crying  out,  "Oh,  Peggy!  Peggy!"  sank  on  his 
tnees  at  her  feet 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  401 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

A     WELCOME     ARRIVAL. 

Peggy's  eyes  were  full  of  tears  as  Zach.  knelt 
so  humbly  beside  her,  but  there  was  a  gleam  of 
joy  behind  them  like  a  ray  of  sunlight  shining 
through  a  Summer's  rain.  There  was  a  long 
pause,  which  was  finally  broken  by  Zach. 

"  That  you,  above  all  others,  should  have  done 
this  ! "  he  said. 

"  Well,  who  had  a  better  right,  I  should  like  to 
know,  Mister  Martin  ?  "  replied  Peggy,  mischiev 
ously,  and  laughing  through  her  tears. 

Zach.  uncovered  his  face  and  looked  at  her 
long  and  steadily. 

11 1  am  utterly  confused  and  confounded,  Peggy," 
said  he  ;  "but  tell  me  how  in  the  world  you  came 
to  be  here  at  this  time!" 

"  I  came  to  Washington  some  time  ago,"  she 

A2 


4O2  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

replied.  "  I  knew  you  were  in  trouble,  and  I 
found  out  the  charges  against  you.  I  had  intended 
to  be  here  earlier,  and  save  you  all  this  pain,  but  I 
was  detained.  I  found  the  room  at  last,  and  I  — . 
Oh,  Zach.,  I  came  in  time,  did  I  not?" 

"God  bless  you,  my  darling,"  said  Zach.,  pas 
sionately  seizing  her  and  drawing  her  to  him. 
"Oh,  Peggy!  if  you  knew  how  utterly  powerless  I 
am  to  express  my  gratitude  !"  And  he  seized  her 
hands  and  held  them  as  in  a  vise. 

After  a  while  they  began  to  converse  more 
calmly,  and  Peggy  gave  Zach.  to  understand  that 
she  was  serving  in  some  capacity  in  a  family  in 
Washington.  She  told  him  something  of  her  life 
in  Philadelphia,  though  never  hinting  at  her  art 
studies,  and  how  she  had  gone  abroad  with  a  lady, 
spending  two  years  in  Italy,  at  which  Zach  was 
greatly  surprised. 

"  When  I  came  back,"  said  Peggy,  "  I  thought 
I  might  as  well  work  here  as  anywhere,  so  I  came 
on,  and  then  when  you  got  into  your  trouble  — 
why,  I  got  you  out,  you  know." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  403 

"  And  what  a  scoundrel  I  have  been,  Peggy!" 
said  he.  "Oh,  I  needed  this  lesson.  I  needed  it. 
Can  you  ever  forgive  me  ?  Can  you,  and  take  me 
back  to  the  old  place  in  your  heart?  I  am  poor 
now  —  but  for  you  would  be  disgraced;  but  will 
you  take  me  back  ?  " 

She  was  silent. 

"  If  you  can  not,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  wish  I  had 
gone  down  there  an  hour  ago  never  to  have  risen." 

Peggy  looked  up  at  him. 

"  You  may  not  always  feel  so,"  said  she.  "  You 
are  in  trouble  and  you  are  grateful  now.  By  and 
by  it  may  not  be  so  pleasant  to  have  an  ignorant 
girl  to  introduce  to  your  friends." 

Zach.  made  a  gesture  of  impatience.  "  Peggy," 
said  he,  "  I  deserve  this  ;  I  know  it,  but  there  are 
some  people  in  this  world  who  are  born  wise.  No 
lack  of  culture,  no  adverse  circumstances  can 
make  them  common  or  vulgar.  You  are  one  of 
those,  bless  your  little  body.  I  came  to  know  that 
when  it  was  too  late.  Let  me  tell  you  all,  then 
judge  me."  And  Zach  told  her  all.  He  told  her 


404  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

how  regrets  at  breaking  off  their  engagement 
came  to  him  early  and  grew  upon  him  all  through 
those  years  of  separation ;  how  honor  demanded 
that  he  should  remain  true  to  his  new  vows,  and 
how  he  had  tried  to  do  so ;  how  the  letter  of  Belle 
discarding  him  wounded  his  pride,  and,  coming 
with  his  other  troubles,  deeply  pained  him;  but 
that,  aside  from  that,  he  would  have  rejoiced  at 
such  a  deliverance  ;  all  of  which  Peggy  heard  and 
pondered,  glowing  and  triumphant,  but  without 
committing  herself  in  return. 

"  By  an  effort,  Peggy,"  said  Zach.,  "  I  can 
retrieve  the  past;  with  you  the  task  would  be  easy. 
Say  that  all  is  forgiven,  and  that  you  have  not 
forgotten  how  to  love  me." 

Before  Peggy  could  reply,  there  was  a  great 
commotion  in  the  hall,  and  voices  were  heard 
expostulating  with  the  messenger  who  stood  out 
side  the  door. 

"  Well,  send  in  your  card,"  said  the  latter,  "and 
if  he  wants  to  see  you  he  can  say  so." 

"Send  in  fiddlesticks,"  retorted  a  voice.  "  Dang 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  405 

it,  do  you  think  I  want  an  introduction  to  my  own 
son?" 

Peggy  gave  a  JumP-  "  It's  them,"  she  said, 
trembling.  "  Oh,  the  dear  old  souls.  Hear 
em!" 

There  was  a  word  from  the  messenger  about 
not  knowing  who  the  visitor  was,  and  then  the  big 
door  slowly  opened. 

"Come  in,  old  woman,"  said  the  voice  of 
Mr.  Martin ;  "  let's  go  right  in  and  surprise 
him." 

"Don't  slam  things  'round  in  that  way,"  said 
Mrs.  Martin,  and  then  the  door  swung  full  upon 
its  hinges,  and  there  stood  Zach.'s  father  and 
mother,  their  hands  full  of  luggage,  but  their  faces 
warm  and  bright  as  ever.  Peggy  and  Zach.  stood 
still  in  their  places  for  a  moment,  and  then,  seeing 
them,  the  old  couple  suddenly  dropped  their 
bundles,  "  camphire "  and  all,  and  rushed  across 
the  room.  In  another  moment  Peggy  was  locked 
in  the  arms  of  Mr.  Martin,  while  Zach.  was  closely 
clasped  by  his  mother. 


406  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Peggy!"  said  Mr.  Martin. 
"  Zach  ! "  ejaculated  his  mother. 
And  the  door  of  the    committee-room   closed 
upon  a  reunited  family. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  407 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE    END    OF    IT    ALL. 

It  was  all  over  the  town  in  less  than  twenty- 
four  hours  afterward;  Zachariah  Martin  had  been 
tendered  the  mission  to  Italy  by  the  President. 
The  conspiracy  against  him  so  happily  defeated 
had  given  him  the  sympathy  of  his  fellow-mem 
bers,  and  uniting  in  a  petition  to  the  Executive, 
the  appointment  had  been  readily  made.  Mrs. 
Marmaluke  had  heard  of  it,  Belle  had  heard  of  it, 
and  the  first  movement  on  their  part  was  to  make 
an  effort  to  reinstate  themselves  in  the  good  graces 
of  the  "rising  statesman."  Belle  had  written  him 
a  note.  It  bore  her  monogram ;  was  most  deli 
cately  perfumed,  and  was  written  in  the  most  fault 
less  style.  It  read  as  follows: 

MY  DEAR  ZACHARIAH  :  What  a  mistake  we  have  both 
made !  I  never  heard  of  a  more  unfortunate  muddle.  We 


408  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

were  both  deceived.      That  all   may  be  explained    and   set 
right,  come  at  once  to  your  unhappy  but  loving  BELLE. 

Zach.  received  this  letter  and  read  it  with  a 
smile.  He  was  just  going  to  call  on  Peggy,  who 
was  domiciled  in  the  house  of  Madam  Benedict, 
and  he  put  the  note  in  his  pocket.  Since  the 
occurrence  at  the  committee-room  his  ill-luck 
seemed  to  have  vanished.  All  was  bright  and 
encouraging  again.  Not  only  had  he  been  rein 
stated  in  public  estimation,  but  his  losses  were 
about  to  be  made  good  through  threats  of  a  pros 
ecution  against  Mr.  Hartwell,  which  that  gentle 
man  had  good  reason  to  avoid.  Zach.  had  succeeded 
in  conquering  Peggy,  not  a  very  difficult  task,  and 
they  were  to  be  married  unostentatiously  within  a 
week.  She  had  been  so  careful,  and  had  avoided 
going  in  public  so  rigidly,  that  Zach.  had  not  as 
yet  the  remotest  suspicion  of  her  dual  existence, 
supposing  her  to  be  nothing  more  than  the  simple 
Peggy  whom  he  had  always  known.  Once,  indeed, 
as  she  sat  briskly  sewing  of  an  evening  while 
Judge  Spalding  and  Zach.  discussed  politics,  the 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  409 

latter  appeared  to  be  suddenly  struck  with  the 
resemblance  he  had  before  noted,  and  called  the 
attention  of  the  Judge  to  the  fact. 

"Judge,"  said  Zach.,  breaking  off  the  conversa 
tion,  "did  you  ever  notice  how  much  Peggy  and 
that  Miss  Cristopher  resemble  each  other?" 

Peggy  colored  scarlet,  and  turned  her  head, 
while  the  Judge  looked  a  moment  before  replying. 

"They  do  look  a  trifle  alike,"  he  responded 
with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  "but  Miss  Cristopher  is 
taller  and  darker." 

"  I  presume  if  they  were  together  the  likeness 
would  vanish,"  answered  Zach.,  "  but  I  remarked  it 
when  I  saw  the  artist  at  the  Arlington,  though  I 
had  but  a  glimpse  of  her,  and  could  not  judge 
fairly."  This  was  all  that  was  said,  and  Peggy 
grew  easier. 

As  before  stated,  Peggy  was  domiciled  at  the 
house  of  Madam  Benedict.  She  had  informed 
Zach.  that  the  lady  with  whom  she  was  staying 
was  the  one  she  had  accompanied  abroad,  and 
that  she  was  treated  as  a  companion  and  not 

18 


4io  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

as  a  servant  by  her  kind  mistress.  Zach.  had 
proposed  taking  her  out  of  her  situation  and 
placing  her  with  some  of  his  friends  pending 
the  wedding,  but  when  Peggy  introduced  him 
to  her  patroness,  and  the  latter  exhibited  such 
a  motherly  interest  in  the  young  lady,  he  readily 
gave  his  consent  to  her  remaining.  Indeed, 
Zach.  was  greatly  gratified  at  beholding  the 
consideration  with  which  the  humble  Peggy 
was  treated  by  her  kind  friend.  He  did  not  think 
it  strange,  for  in  his  present  mood  it  seemed  per 
fectly  natural  that  all  the  world  should  worship 
her;  but  it  pleased  him  very  much.  Zach.  began 
to  feel  a  strong  interest  in  Madam  Benedict 
when  that  good  lady,  in  addition  to  what  she  had 
done  for  Peggy,  also  insisted  upon  entertaining 
his  father  and  mother  while  they  were  in  the  city( 
and  concluded  that  she  was  the  kindest  woman  in 
the  world.  He  was  surprised  a  little  also  to  see 
how  well  the  stately  hostess  and  his  rough  and 
ready  father  got  along  together — coming  upon 
them,  as  he  did  the  first  day  of  their  meeting,  in 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  411 

what  seemed  a  very  confidential  and  remarkably 
amusing  interview  which  terminated  at  once  on  his 
approach.  One  thing  annoyed  Zach.  a  little,  and 
that  was  the  rigid  seclusion  of  Peggy.  He  was 
proud  of  her,  and  desired  to  introduce  her  to  his 
friends,  but  she  absolutely  refused  to  see  any  one 
save  Judge  Spalding,  who  was  in  the  secret,  and 
when  Zach.  appealed  to  his  father  and  Madam 
Benedict  to  induce  her  to  alter  her  determination, 
they  both  gave  it  as  their  deliberate  opinion  that 
it  would  be  much  better  for  Peggy  to  remain  hid 
den  entirely  until  the  day  of  the  wedding.  Zach 
was  silenced  if  not  satisfied,  and  so  the  little 
scheme,  which  had  been  resolved  upon,  viz.,  to 
marry  Zach.  to  Peggy  without  the  knowledge  on 
his  part  that  she  was  any  other  than  the  humble 
girl  he  had  known  of  old,  worked  very  nicely. 

Zach.  took  occasion  during  the  evening  men 
tioned  to  show  Belle's  letter  to  Peggy,  and  the 
latter  was  quite  dismayed  at  first,  but  became 
reassured  when  Zach.  wrote  his  reply  and  handed 
it  to  her.  It  ran  as  follows : 


412  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

Miss  BELLE  MARMALUKE  :  Hard  as  was  the  blow  that 
canceled  our  engagement,  I  accepted  it  as  final,  and  by  reason 
of  subsequent  events  have  been  led  to  look  upon  what  I  then 
regarded  as  a  calamity  in  the  light  of  a  blessing.  It  has 
brought,  through  seeming  providential  means,  one  to  my  heart 
who  ought  never  to  have  left  it,  and  one  whose  love  and  con 
stancy  I  now  prize  beyond  measure.  I  take  the  liberty  of 
inclosing  cards  for  an  event  which  I  trust  may  not  prove  unin 
teresting  to  you  and  your  family ;  and  have  the  honor  to  remain 
your  obt.  servant,  ZACHARIAH  MARTIN. 

The  cards  alluded  to  were  invitations  to  his 
wedding  reception,  and  Peggy's  eyes  opened  pretty 
wide  as  she  realized  this  fact 

"  Have  her  there !  "  she  cried.  "  Oh, 
Zach.!" 

"Why  not,  if  she  desires  to  come?  I  should 
certainly  be  much  pleased  to  present  you  to  her," 
returned  Zach.,  laughing. 

"  But  when  you  see  her  looking  so  beautiful," 
cried  Peggy,  "  you  may  be  ashamed  of  your  plain 
little  wife." 

Zach.  laughed  gleefully.  "You  plain!"  said 
he.  "  Now  that's  really  good.  Upon  my  word,  I 
hope  she  will  come,  in  order  that  you  may  see  me 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  413 

under  this  terrible  temptation ;  but  I  fear  she  will 
decline  with  thanks." 

Now  the  truth  was,  Peggy  knew  Miss  Marma- 
luke  and  her  mother,  having  received  two  or  three 
calls  from  them,  and  she  trembled  as  she  thought 
of  the  shock  they  would  receive  at  recognizing 
her.  However,  there  was  not  much  probability  of 
their  coming ;  that  was  one  comfort. 

It  was  a  few  days  after  the  sending  of  Belle's 
letter  to  Zach.,  and  that  young  lady  had  not  yet 
received  a  reply.  She  was  considerably  vexed  at 
this,  and  her  mother  was  on  positive  nettles.  She 
inquired  a  half-dozen  times  a  day  if  Belle  had 
received  an  answer,  and  at  each  recurring  disap 
pointment  grew  more  anxious.  At  last  the 
postman  brought  a  letter  directed  in  Zach.'s  well- 
known  hand,  and  Belle  opened  it  eagerly.  She 
read  it,  and  flushed  crimson.  She  clenched  her 
little  hands,  bit  her  lips,  and  patted  her  foot 
impatiently  on  the  carpet. 

"Peggy  Clover!"  she  exclaimed,  looking  at 
the  cards.  "  As  I  live,  the  ignorant  country  girl, 


414  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

of  whom  he  was  always  talking.  Well !  he  is  wel 
come  to  her." 

Mrs.  Marmaluke  was  excessively  vexed,  and 
high  words  passed  between  her  and  Belle,  each 
accusing  the  other  of  being  to  blame ;  but  Mr. 
Marmaluke  happening  to  come  in  about  that 
time,  ended  the  quarrel,  telling  them  there  was  no 
use  "  crying  over  spilt  milk." 

At  first  it  was  deemed  absolutely  out  of  the 
question  for  them  to  attend  the  reception,  but 
finally  fearing  that  their  absence  would  be  con 
strued  to  the  disadvantage  of  Belle,  and  that 
it  would  be  better  to  attend  and  keep  up  the 
impression  that  it  was  she  and  not  Zach.  who  had 
broken  off  the  match,  they  resolved  to  go. 

"  Let  him  only  see  you  by  the  side  of  the  boor 
he  has  married,"  said  Mrs.  Marmaluke,  now  only 
intent  on  revenge, "and  it  will  be  triumph  enough." 

It  was  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  when 
Mrs.  Barker,  accompanied  by  Audley,  burst  into 
the  house  in  great  excitement. 

"Oh  dear!"  she  cried,  sinking  into  a  chair.    "  I 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  415 

am  nearly  out  of  breath,  but  do  tell  me  quick  are 
you  going  to  the  reception  ?  But  of  course  you 
are.  It  will  suffocate  me,  I  know  it  will.  The 
idea  of  a  girl  like  that  the  wife  of  a  foreign  minis 
ter!  I  presume  she  will  receive  in  a  checked  sun- 
bonnet." 

"  Have  you  seen  her?"  inquired  Belle. 

"  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  her,"  responded  Mrs. 
Barker.  "  Her  back  is  as  broad  as  the  Irish 
giant's.  Oh,  there's  no  mistake.  She's  a  regular 
kitchen  girl." 

"It's  the  strangest  thing,"  ejaculated  Audley. 

"  I  never  can  keep  my  face  straight,"  said  Belle. 

"  And  you  should  see  her  shoes,"  continued 
Audley.  "Nines!"  He  held  his  hands  wide 
apart,  as  if  to  give  an  idea  of  the  length  of 
Peggy's  feet,  and  then  giggled  excessively.  If 
Audley  had  possessed  the  sense  of  an  oyster  he 
would  have  discovered  something  of  Miss  Cris- 
topher's  relations  to  Zach.,  but  she  had  cleverly 
concealed  her  purpose  from  him,  and  he  had  not 
the  remotest  idea  that  she  and  Zach.'s  intended 


4i 6  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

wife  were  identical.  Beside  Miss  Cristopher  was 
supposed  to  be  in  Philadelphia,  and  Audley  was 
industriously  engaged  sending  perfumed  notes  to 
an  address  which  she  had  left  behind.  He  had 
never,  to  his  knowledge,  beheld  Peggy  Clover,  and 
the  joke  about  her  feet  had,  so  to  speak,  no  founda 
tion  to  rest  upon. 

"What  could  have  possessed  Martin?"  said 
Mrs.  Marmaluke,  looking  puzzled. 

"  Oh,  I  am  told  that  he  engaged  himself  to  her 
when  he  was  down  and  in  a  fit  of  desperation," 
returned  Mrs.  Barker. 

"  Well,  whatever  his  wife  may  be,"  said  Mr. 
Marmaluke,  overhearing  the  last  two  or  three  sen 
tences,  "  Martin  has  the  position,  and  that's  enough 
for  us." 

"Of  course,"  replied  Mrs.  Barker,  "  we  must  go 
and  keep  our  faces  straight  if  we  die  in  the 
attempt.  But  fancy  that  woman  as  the  repre 
sentative  of  American  nobility  abroad!  Enter," 
said  she,  placing  herself  in  the  center  of  the  room 
and  assuming  a  comical  attitude.  "Enter  his 


Zacharwhi  the  Congressman.  417 

excellency  the  Honorable  Zachariah  and  lady  for 
an  audience  with  the  King !  They  approach  the 
royal  person."  Here  Mrs.  Barker  stamped  with 
heavy  tread  down  the  center  of  the  parlor  and 
gave  a  little  snort  and  giggle  and  a  short  curtsey, 
as  she  presented  in  imagination  the  wife  of  the 
American  Minister  to  an  imaginary  emperor. 
There  was  a  loud  laugh  from  the  others,  and  the 
clever  mimic,  no  longer  able  to  keep  up,  sank 
upon  the  sofa  in  a  paroxysm  of  mirth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  had  gone  down  into 
Maryland  a  week  or  so  after  their  arrival,  to  visit 
some  distant  relatives,  but  they  returned  a  few 
days  before  the  wedding,  and  were  again  domiciled 
at  the  house  of  Madam  Benedict,  who,  much  to 
Zach.'s  delight,  had  once  more  insisted  with  much 
determination,  that  they  should  become  her  guests. 

It  was  the  morning  of  the  wedding,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Martin  were  alone  in  the  grand  parlor, 
Mrs.  M.  reclining  in  a  very  idle  manner  on  a  mag 
nificent  sofa,  and  the  old  gentlemen  gazing  abput 

him  with  astonishment. 
18*  Ba 


4i  8  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Thunder!  what  a  place  it  is!"  he  exclaimed 
to  himself,  "a  quarter  section  o'  land  stocked 
wouldn't  pay  for  it.  Look  at  the  old  woman! 
Acts  as  if  she  had  been  born  and  cradled  in 
luxury." 

Mr.  Martin  seated  himself  in  a  chair  and  occu 
pied  himself  in  observing  his  wife. 

Mrs.  M.  touched  a  bell  and  a  servant  appeared. 

"A  glass  of  water,  Alphonso,"  she  said,  sinking 
back  languidly  into  her  place. 

"See  her!"  cried  the  old  gentleman,  slapping 
his  legs  with  delight.  "It's  better  than  a  show." 

"My  name  be  John,  ma'am,"  said  the  servant, 
pulling  a  lock  of  his  hair,  and  tarrying  as  if  he 
wanted  her  to  fully  understand  this  important  fact 
before  he  departed. 

"  Alphonso  is  your  name,"  responded  Mrs. 
Martin,  severely,  "and  England  is  your  nation." 

"  Hingland  be  my  nation,  ma'am,  but  my  name 
be  John,"  he  replied. 

"Silence!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Martin. 

"  Yes'm." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  419 

"Go!" 

"Yes'm;"  and  Alphonso,  or  John,  turned  hur 
riedly  and  left  the  room. 

Mr.  Martin  was  intensely  pleased  at  this.  He 
brought  his  chair  near  to  where  his  wife  was 
reclining,  and  looked  at  her  curiously. 

"  It's  the  best  thing,"  he  exclaimed.  Then,  bow 
ing  very  humbly,  he  said  deferentially,  "  Is  your 
ladyship  indisposed?" 

Mrs.  Martin  looked  at  him  severely,  but  did 
not  answer. 

"  Be  you  going  to  keep  at  that  temperature  all 
the  morning,  old  woman?"  he  remarked. 

"Yes,  I  be.     What  then?"  said  Mrs.  Martin. 

"  Nothing,"  he  responded,  "  only  them  high- 
toned  fellers  that  are  coming  might  git  skeered.  I 
should,  if  I  didn't  know  you,  for  you  look  like  a 
regular  Lucretia  Borgia,  and  as  if  you  would  cut 
a  feller's  throat  if  he  winked." 

The  old  lady  regarded  him  with  a  comical 
expression,  while  he  looked  at  her  in  a  broad  grin. 
Then  they  both  rose  and  began  bowing  to  each 


420  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

other,  and  finally  broke  out  laughing  in  great 
glee. 

"  Don't  I  do  it  pretty  well,  old  man  ? "  said 
Mrs.  Martin. 

"You  get  ahead  of  anything  I  ever  see,"  he 
responded. 

"  Zach.  says,"  she  continued,  "I  startled  every 
body  that  called  yesterday,  I  was  so  haughty  and 
proud.  You  see  I  know  a  thing  or  two  if  I  was 
brought  up  in  a  sheep  paster.  I  keep  still,  and 
only  say  'ye — as'  and  '  n-o-o,'  and  they  think  I 
could  talk  as  glib  as  a  parrot  if  I  was  a  mind." 

"You  look  it,  old  woman;  indeed  you  do," 
responded  her  husband. 

As  they  were  talking,  Zach.  entered  with  a 
friend,  whom  he  presented  to  both  his  father  and 
mother. 

"  I  am  glad  to  meet  the  parents  of  my  friend," 
said  the  gentleman.  "How  do  you  like  the  city, 
sir?" 

"Well,  tolerably,"  replied  Mr.  Martin.  "You 
see,  I  ain't  used  to  doing  nothing,  and  it  goes  a 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  421 

little  hard  with  me,  but  I  s'pose  I'd  come  to  like  it 
after  awhile." 

"Ah!  no  doubt,"  responded  the  other;  "as 
many  have  done  before  you.  And  you,  madam," 
he  continued,  turning  to  Mrs.  M.,  "are  you  favor 
ably  impressed  ?  " 

"Well,  ye — es,"  replied  Mrs.  Martin,  hesitat 
ingly. 

"Oh,  I  see,"  said  the  friend,  "You  can  not 
speak  flatteringly,  so  you  maintain  a  neutrality?" 

"  N-o-o !"  responded  Mrs.  M.,  as  if  in  doubt. 

"You  will  not  commit  yourself,  that's  plain,"  he 
said.  "But  you  must  admire  the  Capitol?" 

"  I  rather  think,"  replied  the  old  lady,  resolving 
to  venture  a  little,  "  that  it  ought  to  be  consolid- 
atM." 

"What!"  he  exclaimed,  "consol —  Ah!  I 
see ;  pretty  good.  You  refer  to  the  city.  Well,  it 
is  a  little  scattered  ;  but  it  is  by  no  means  the 
city  of  magnificent  distances  it  was  a  few  years 
ago." 

"There,"   whispered    Mr.    Martin   to   his  wife, 


422  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

pulling  her  dress.  "  You  got  out  of  that,  old 
woman,  but  don't  try  it  agin,  or  you'll  ruin  it." 

An  hour  afterward  Mr.  Martin  was  engaged  in 
a  whispered  consultation  with  Peggy  in  the  hall 
up  stairs.  "  I  tell  you  it  won't  do,"  said  he.  "  You 
just  go  right  along  and  don't  tell  him  a  thing." 

"  But  Mother  Martin  says  he  would  feel  so 
much  better  if  he  knew,"  pleaded  Peggy. 

"  Mother  Martin  be  hanged ! "  replied  the  old 
gentleman.  "  I  want  her  to  let  this  business  alone* 
It's  too  good  a  joke  to  spile,  and  it  shan't  be 
spiled." 

Whatever  the  argument  was  about,  Mr.  Mar 
tin  conquered.  A  short  time  after  that,  in  the 
presence  of  a  very  few  friends,  Zachariah  Martin 
and  Peggy  Clover  were  made  husband  and  wife. 

Peggy  looked  very  beautiful  indeed,  though 
she  was  dressed  most  inexpensively  and  wore  no 
ornaments,  save  a  bunch  of  flowers  in  her  dark 
hair  and  at  her  breast.  After  the  couple  had 
received  the  congratulations  of  those  present, 
Peggy  disappeared,  while  Zach.  engaged  in  con- 


Zachariak,  the  Congressman.  42o 

versation  about  their  future  movements.  While 
he  was  busy  explaining  their  designs,  Peggy, 
dressed  with  great  richness,  appeared  at  the  door. 
Zach.'s  back  was  toward  her,  and  Judge  Spalding 
stepped  up  to  him  and  touched  him  on  the  arm, 
interrupting  the  conversation. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Martin,"  said  the  Judge, 
"  but  I  wish  to  present  to  you  a  friend  of  mine 
who  has  long  desired  your  acquaintance,  and  one 
that  I  trust  you  will  know  better  in  the  future." 

Peggy  had  turned  her  back  and  bowed  her 
head  as  Judge  Spalding  began  to  speak,  but  she 
once  more  held  her  face  toward  them  as  he  said, 
"Mr.  Martin,  Miss  Margaret  Cristopher!"  . 

For  a  moment  Zach.  was  stupefied.  He  looked 
at  the  face  before  him,  and  then  he  looked  about 
for  Peggy.  Then  old  Mr.  Martin,  unable  to  con 
tain  himself,  began  to  roar  and  clap  his  hands  ; 
then  Miss  Cristopher  began  half  to  laugh  and 
half  to  cry;  then  they  all  commenced  laughing 
together,  and  finally  Zach.  comprehended  the 
situation. 


424  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Is  this  possible!"  he  exclaimed.  "Oh,  how 
could  I  have  been  so  blind  !  It  was  you,  then, 
and  my  eyes  did  not  deceive  me!  Tell  me  of  it  — 
explain  it — what  does  it  all  mean?" 

"  Aha,  old  woman  !"  cried  Mr.  Martin.  "  Peggy 
is  as  big  a  lady  as  the  best  of  them,  after  all!" 

"  I  allers  thought  and  prophesied  it,"  returned 
Mrs.  Martin. 

Briefly  then  Peggy  recounted  her  history  for 
the  past  few  years;  bow  she  had  excited  attention 
with  her  rough  drawing  in  Philadelphia ;  how  her 
kind  benefactress  had  first  taken  an  interest  in  her 
and  accompanied  her  abroad;  how  she  had  in  the 
few  years  of  her  pupilage  displayed  what  was 
thought  a  wonderful  genius  for  portrait  painting, 
and  how  she  had  at  last  been  commissioned  by 
the  government  and  thus  made  famous. 

"  I  have  been  on  the  point  of  revealing-  myself 
to  you  a  dozen  times  since  I  have  been  in  Wash 
ington,"  she  continued,  "but  I  always  hesitated. 
That  you  at  last  married  poor  little  Peggy  and 
none  other  is  a  great  consolation.  But  we've  had 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  425 

a  hard  time  to  keep  it,  haven't  we,  Father  Mar 
tin?"  said  she,  appealing  to  the  old  gentleman. 

"Like  to  a  busted  me,"  responded  Mr.  Martin. 

"  Bless  you,  Peggy.  How  little  I  deserve  all 
this,"  said  Zach. 

"  You  do  not  deserve  ;t,  Martin,  that's  a  fact," 
said  the  Judge;  "but  I  can't  help  it.  I  have 
another  little  duty  to  perform.  I  am  requested  by 
Madam  Benedict  to  say  that  she  must  resign  this 
establishment.  It  is  not  hers,  but  yours,  a  gift 
from  your  wife  on  your  wedding  day.  She  has 
tried  to  do  the  honors  so  far,  but  she  now  gives 
way  and  becomes  the  guest  instead  of  the  hostess." 

Zach.  took  out  his  handkerchief  and  wiped  the 
perspiration  from  his  face. 

"  If  I  ever  find  words  to  tell  you,"  said  he,  tak 
ing  Peggy  by  the  hand,  "how  much  I  " — but  his 
emotion  got  the  better  of  him,  and  he  turned 
away  to  the  window. 

That  evening  the  beautiful  mansion  was  bril 
liantly  illuminated,  and  a  great  company  was  gath 
ering.  The  first  of  our  old  acquaintances  to 


426  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

arrive  were  Commodore  Grimshaw  and  Mrs. 
Sampson.  They  were  amazed,  of  course,  and 
Grimshaw  took  occasion  to  tell  Zach.  that  he 
hoped  he  would  be  sent  out  in  command  of  the 
iron-clad  Podunkinowski  to  convey  him  to  his  new 
station.  Then  the  gallant  Commodore  passed  on 
to  make  room  for  others,  but  took  up  his  station 
so  as  to  observe  the  arrivals. 

"This  is  the  awkward  girl  that  Martin  has 
married,"  said  he  to  Mrs.  Sampson.  "  There's  a 
nor'wester  blowin'  to-night." 

"  I'm  struck  dumb,"  responded  Mrs.  Sampson. 

"Mr.  and  Mrs.  and  Miss  Marmaluke,"  shouted 
the  servant.  Zach.  started.  He  had  not  expected 
them,  but  he  hardly  had  time  to  think  before  they 
came  in  and  were  presented. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  Martin,"  said  Mr.  Marma 
luke. 

"Oh,  all  of  us!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Marmaluke. 
"We  are  delighted." 

"  Thank  you,"  responded  Zach. 

Then  they  were  presented  in  turn  to  Peggy. 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  427 

As  they  looked,  both  Belle  and  her  mother  gave  a 
start  and  seemed  absolutely  to  grow  faint. 

"That's  a  shot  from  the  bow  gun,"  growled 
Grimshaw,  who  was  watching  them. 

The  crowd  passed  on,  and  in  the  course  of 
things,  old  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  came  in  for  many 
introductions.  As  these  began  to  grow  frequent 
Mr.  Martin  whispered,  "  Keep  up  your  resolution, 
old  woman,  and  don't  speak.  This  is  getting 
thick." 

"Look  out  for  yourself,  Joseph,"  replied  she, 
"and  let  me  alone." 

"  Good  evening,  ladies ! "  said  the  old  Com 
modore,  as  Belle  and  her  mother  approached  him. 
"You  look  happy  to-night.  That's  right.  I 
like  to  see  people  merry  over  the  success  of 
their  friends.  How  do  you  like  the  looks  of  Mrs. 
Martin?" 

"We  have  met  her  before,"  returned  Belle, 
coldly.  "  She  was  formerly  Miss  Cristopher." 

"  But  we  didn't  know  it  before.  Did  you,  Miss 
Marmaluke?"  said  Grimshaw. 


428  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

"Well,  we  know  it  now,  I  suppose,"  she 
answered. 

"Yes,  we  all  know  it  now,  and  are  so  much 
pleased  over  it!"  said  he,  provokingly. 

Belle  turned  away  and  consulted  with  her 
mother. 

"Mr.  G.  Henry  Audley,  Mrs.  Barker,  Mrs. 
Gammill!"  cried  the  servant  at  the  door. 

"  There  goes  a  whole  broadside,"  said  the  Com 
modore  to  his  companion.  "  It'll  sweep  their 
decks  clean.  They'll  all  strike  their  flags  and  sur 
render  in  a  minute." 

Audley  was  utterly  prostrated  when  he  was 
presented  to  Mrs.  Martin,  late  Miss  Cristopher. 
He  staggered,  and  rubbed  his  eyes  in  amazement. 
As  for  Mrs.  Barker,  she  became  very  red  in  the 
face,  and  the  smile  which  she  had  prepared  herself 
to  reveal,  never  troubled  her  at  all. 

"  What  is  there  vulgar  about  his  parents  ? " 
said  Mrs.  Marmaluke  to  Belle  a  few  minutes  later, 
as  if  determined  to  make  herself  as  miserable  as 
possible.  "  He  seems  to  be  a  very  sensible  old 


Zachariah)  the  Congressman.  429 

gentleman,  and  as  for  Martin's  mother,  she's  a 
born  aristocrat." 

Just  here  Audley  was  presented  to  the  old 
lady,  and  the  two  went  bowing  about  with  great 
gusto. 

"  What  a  perlite  young  creetur  it  is,"  whispered 
the  old  lady  to  her  husband. 

"Well,  I  am  suffocated,"  remarked  Mrs.  Barker 
to  Belle  when  she  got  to  the  latter's  side.  "  The 
ignorant  girl  is  a  queen,  and  the  queen  of  Wash 
ington  society.  What  can  it  mean  ?  How  did  it 
come  about  ? " 

"  My  hopes  are  blasted,"  remarked  Audley, 
approaching,  with  a  look  of  great  dejection.  "I 
shall  retire  from  the  world." 

"Courage,"  said  Mrs.  Barker.  "They  say  she 
has  a  sister.  When  neckties  fail  in  one  quarter 
they  may  win  in  another."  But  the  young  man 
refused  to  be  comforted,  and  grew  very  limp  and 
melancholy. 

"  Colonel  Ebenezer  Barncastle,  A.  B.,  F.  R.  S.," 
shouted  the  servant,  There  was  a  stir,  for  this 


430  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

was  not  a  familiar  name  in  such  gatherings.  Zach. 
and  Peggy,  however,  smiled  good  humoredly. 

Barncastle  came  in  with  the  same  airy  swing 
as  ever,  and  seemed  quite  at  home  in  the  brilliant 
assemblage. 

"Forgive  me,  my  friend,"  said  he,  taking  the 
hand  of  Zach.  "  I  am  without  a  card,  but  friend 
ship  can  overlook  conventionalities.  Depart  from 
the  land  you  have  honored  by  your  life,  and  will 
drape  in  mourning  at  your  death,  with  the  bene 
diction  of  Barncastle." 

"I  am  glad  to  welcome  you,"  said  Zach.,  "and 
to  thank  you  for  the  services  you  rendered  my 
wife  and  myself." 

"  In  her  friendlessness,"  said  Barncastle,  loftily, 
"  temporary  but  pitiful,  I  may  say,  I  protected  her. 
I  made  her  cause  and  your  cause  my  own,  and 
brought  her  through  the  —  what  I  may  call  the 
wilderness,  into  the  promised  land.  Eh,  right?" 

"Mr.  Barncastle,"  said  Zach.,  crossing  over  to 
where  his  father  and  mother  stood,  "let  me  pre 
sent  you  to  my  parents." 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  431 

"What!"  exclaimed  Barncastle,  falling  back, 
and  gazing  with  admiration  upon  them.  "Do  I 
indeed  behold  the  proud  and  happy  parents  of  a 
rising  statesman?  Madam,  your  hand;  let  me 
grasp  with  an  emotion  I  can  not  disguise  the 
honored  palm  of  a  proud  and  happy  mother." 

"What  a  splendid  man!"  said  Mrs.  Martin, 
"He's  the  only  one  among  'em  who  talks  like  a 
book." 

"And  you,  honest  granger!"  continued  Barn- 
castle,  holding  the  hand  of  Zach.'s  father;  "vener 
able  agriculturist,  your  hand.  You  hold  in  your 
grasp,  sir,  the  destinies  of  this  republic!" 

Mr.  Martin  looked  down  into  his  hand  as  if  to 
see  whether  such  a  mighty  settlement  had  been 
made  there  since  he  last  observed  it. 

"You  must  fight  the  battles  of  liberty,"  pursued 
Barncastle.  "  Upon  the  honest  yeomanry  of  the 
land  the  nation  casts  its  despairing  glance. 
Organize,  sir;  organize  everwhere.  Organize  in 
every  school  district;  in  every  hamlet;  in  every 
quarter  of  the  land,  and  let  your  motto  be:  'Our 


43  2  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

country!  May  she  ever  be  right;  but  right  or 
wrong,  our  country.'" 

Barncastle  subsided,  and  Mr.  Martin  turned  to 
his  wife  with  a  quizzical  smile.  "  Talks  exactly 
like  Snyder  did  when  he  ran  for  Sheriff,"  said  he. 

There  was  a  very  fine  banquet  later  in  the 
evening,  and  as  it  neared  the  close  a  member  of 
the  House  rose  and  proposed  the  health  of  Zach, 
He  reviewed  his  political  career,  indulged  in  a 
good  deal  of  fulsome  praise,  and  concluded  by 
prophesying  a  brilliant  future  for  the  Martin's 
Corners  statesman.  Zach.  rose  to  respond  with 
much  applause.  There  was  a  happy,  contented 
look  upon  his  face,  but  no  signs  of  undue  elation. 
He  spoke  very  calmly,  very  modestly,  very  sen 
sibly;  in  fact,  more  sensibly,  perhaps,  than  ever 
before  in  his  life.  The  blows  he  had  received 
had  been  severe  indeed,  but  they  had  broken 
the  shell  of  vanity  and  self-adulation  that  had 
surrounded  him,  and  exposed  the  true  metal 
in  the  man  at  last.  He  thanked  the  speaker 
for  his  kind  words  and  those  present  for  their 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  433 

kind  wishes,  and  then  continued:  "The  Presi 
dent  has  been  kind  enough  to  appoint  me  to 
a  position  of  honor  and  responsibility  abroad,  and 
you  have  been  kind  enough  to  congratulate  me 
thereon.  My  friends,  the  little  misfortunes  which 
I  have  undergone  may  have  made  me  unneces 
sarily  timid  or  foolishly  apprehensive.  I  know  not; 
but  just  now  I  feel  indisposed  to  re-enter  public 
life.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  have  become  satisfied 
that  I  am  not  a  statesman  (he  never  was  so  near 
it  as  at  that  moment),  and  I  assure  you  that  it 
does  not  pain  me  any  longer  to  know  that  in  this 
opinion  the  people  seem  to  concur.  The  happi 
ness  and  satisfaction  which  I  looked  for  in  public 
life  are  not  there,  my  friends,  at  least  for  me.  I 
doubt  much  if  they  are  there  for  any.  To  even 
the  highest,  the  purest,  the  best,  there  are  draughts 
of  bitterness  which  must  make  the  partakers  long 
for  that  cup  of  peace  which  is  reserved  alone  for 
independence.  I  could  moralize  on  this  theme, 
but  I  will  not.  The  public  is  as  it  is,  and  it  will 

remain  so.     If    I   can   in  an  humble  capacity  do 
19  Ca 


434  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

anything  to  soften  criticism,  to  temper  denuncia 
tion,  and  to  encourage  charity  toward  public  serv 
ants,  who  are  always  fallible,  to  be  sure,  but  not 
always  vile,  I  shall  feel  that  I  have  found  a  sphere 
in  life  better  suited  to  my  abilities  than  the  one  I 
am  now  leaving.  For  some  of  these  reasons  I 
shall  not  accept  the  mission  which  has  been  ten 
dered  me,  but  for  which  I  am  nevertheless  most 
grateful." 

Here  the  audience  gave  a  start  of  genuine  sur 
prise. 

"No,"  continued  Zach.  "Away  back  in  the 
West  is  a  humble,  rural  home,  where  I  was  happy 
as  a  boy  and  where  I  hope  to  be  happy  as  a  man. 
Not  that  I  wish  or  expect  to  become  a  recluse,  or 
shut  myself  up  in  cynical  solitude.  But  there  are 
other  duties,  other  aims  in  life  besides  those  which 
direct  us  here.  And  back  there  where  she,  who 
has  to-night  united  her  fortunes  with  mine,  and 
your  speaker  were  reared,  among  those  who  have 
known  us  so  long  and  well,  we  shall  take  up  our 
home.  And  so,  my  friends,  I  lay  down  my  political 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  435 

ambition,  and,  as  I  do  so,  part  with  an  anxiety 
which  I  have  borne  like  Christian's  burden  for 
years.  I  am  no  longer  a  target  for  sportsmen.  I 
am  a  sportsman  myself,  but  humane  and  consider 
ate,  I  hope,  from  a  knowledge  of  the  pain  which 
poisoned  arrows  can  inflict.  Though  I  talk  gravely, 
I  need  scarcely  say  to  you  that  my  heart  is  very 
light.  I  have  tried  all  things.  I  hold  fast  to  that 
which  is  good.  If  I  have  never  done  wisely  before, 
I  feel  the  conviction  that  I  do  wisely  now." 

Zach.  took  Peggy  by  the  hand  as  he  said  this, 
and  after  thanking  his  friends  again,  and  extend 
ing  an  invitation  to  them  to  visit  him  in  his  home, 
took  his  seat 

Thus  did  Zachariah  Martin  begin  and  end  his 
public  career.  The  next  day,  in  the  midst  of  pre 
parations  for  leaving,  a  carriage  drove  up  to  the 
door,  and  there  alighted  Mrs.  Marmaluke,  Belle, 
and  Judge  Spalding,  The  two  ladies  entered  the 
parlor  with  blanched  faces,  and  on  Zach.'s  appear 
ance  Mrs.  Marmaluke  burst  into  tears  and 
besought  Zach.  to  save  her  daughter.  Zach.  was 


43 6  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

amazed,  and  presently  Judge  Spalding  explained. 
An  indictment  had  been  found  against  Hartwell 
and  Belle  for  bribery,  the  penalty  for  offering  a 
bribe  being  the  same  as  for  receiving  one.  Belle 
was  therefore  in  danger  of  a  disgraceful  arrest  if 
not  an  actual  term  in  the  penitentiary.  Hartwell 
had  incontinently  fled.  Judge  Spalding  informed 
Zach.  that  with  his  consent  he  would  take  it  upon 
himself  to  see  that  no  arrest  was  made,  and  that 
the  case  could  be  "  nolle  prossed  "  when  it  came 
up.  The  assurance  was  at  once  given  by  Zach. 
that,  so  far  as  he  was  concerned,  no  steps  should 
be  taken  toward  any  prosecution,  and  so  the 
matter  ended.  As  Belle  took  his  hand  and 
thanked  him,  or  tried  to  thank  him,  the  tears  came 
into  her  eyes,  albeit  unused  to  such  companions, 
and  her  voice  faltered  and  gave  way,  and  then  her 
old  lover  bowed  very  low  to  her,  and  so  she 
passed  from  his  presence  for  probably  the  last 
time. 

A  word  or  two  and  we  end  our  story.     Zach. 
and  Peggy  have  retired  to  the  old  farm,  and  there, 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  437 

surrounded  with  many  of  the  luxuries  of  the  life 
they  have  left,  they  pass  their  Summers.  They 
have  for  a  companion  one  other  beside  old  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Martin,  and  that  is  Madam  Benedict. 
Regarding  Peggy  as  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Benedict 
will  not  consent  to  be  separated  from  her,  and  so 
insists  that  Peggy  and  Zach.,  and  not  unfrequently 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin,  shall  spend  their  Winters 
with  her  in  Philadelphia,  while  she  passes  the 
Summer  with  them  on  the  farm.  Old  Mr.  Martin 
thinks  there  is  rather  too  much  play  and  too  little 
work  about  all  this,  but  the  old  lady  enjoys  the 
arrangement  hugely,  and  except  on  momentous 
occasions  she  always  has  her  way.  Peggy  is 
engaged  on  a  very  pretentious  landscape  scene 
now,  and  has  high  hopes  of  succeeding  even  better 
in  this  line  than  in  that  of  portrait  painting.  She 
and  Zach.  both  declare  that  they  have  found  the 
true  level  at  last,  and  that  they  are  thrice  as  happy 
as  if  they  had  never  been  tried  in  the  fire.  Spiker 
is  still  engaged  in  politics,  and  is  talking  very  loud 
about  this  year's  campaign.  He  has  fallen  out 


438  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

with  the  present  member,  and  actually  addressed  a 
note  to  Zach.  soliciting  him  to  become  a  candidate, 
an  invitation  which  the  latter  very  firmly,  but 
good-naturedly,  declined. 

Audley  is  married  —  married  to  an  estimable 
young  lady,  too,  who  has  strong  hopes  of  making 
something  of  him  yet  "  It's  the  strangest  thing 
how  he  came  to  marry  her,"  he  says,  and  every 
body  agrees  with  him  without  hesitation. 

Hartwell  committed  a  forgery  a  short  time 
ago,  and  left  the  country,  it  is  hoped  never  to 
return. 

Belle  is  still  in  society,  and  may  be  seen  at 
almost  every  fashionable  reception  in  Washington, 
a  little  faded  and  ancient,  but  still  with  her  share 
of  admirers.  The  prospect  of  an  eligible  match 
for  her  is  growing  decidedly  dim,  but  Mrs.  Marma- 
luke  still  has  hope. 

It  was  only  a  short  time  ago  that  Zach.  received 
the  following  letter,  which  he  read  with  much 
amusement : 


Zachariah,  the  Congressman.  439 

NEW  YORK  CITY,  -    -  18 — . 

MUCH  HONORED  AND  DEAR  SIR  :  I  drop  you  a  line  to 
inform  you  that  I  too,  taking  your  bright  example  for  my 
guide,  have  retired  from  politics.  It  is  fascinating  but  dan 
gerous.  I  am  now  engaged  in  the  great  Zoological  and  Moral 
Museum,  at  the  street  and  number  hereto  appended.  I  in  a 
great  measure  organized  the  enterprise,  and  it  is  now  my  duty 
to  describe  to  passing  pedestrians  the  wonders  of  our  collec 
tion,  and  invite  them  into  the  most  gigantic  and  gorgeous 
exhibition  now  before  the  public.  (Admission  25  cents;  chil 
dren  under  10  years  half  price.)  I  assure  you,  Mr.  Martin, 
that  here  is  a  field  for  talent  of  which  I  little  dreamed  when 
floundering  amid  the  sloughs  of  Congressional  life.  The  inno 
cent  gaities  of  the  monkey  tribe,  the  deep  repose  of  the 
anaconda,  and  the  native  dignity  of  the  ourang-outang,  form  a 
peaceful  and  happy  spectacle  most  refreshing  to  a  worn-out 
statesman.  If  you  visit  New  York  drop  in  and  see  them.  A 
child  can  handle  the  entire  collection  with  the  utmost  safety. 
Remember  me  to  your  distinguished  consort,  and  believe  me 
gratefully,  and  with  high  consideration,  your  friend, 

EBENEZER  BARNCASTLE. 
Professor  of  Zoology. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zachariah  Martin  will  certainly 
visit  Barncastle  when  they  go  to  New  York. 

The  family  of  little  Bobbin  are  living  at  Mar 
tin's  Corners,  and,  thanks  to  Zach.  and  Peggy,  in 
very  comfortable  circumstances.  Bobbin's  death 


440  The  D.  G.  &  L.  Series. 

was  regretted  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  there  was 
sincere  grief  when  his  remains  were  laid  away  in 
the  little  churchyard. 

By  Peggy's  direction  a  beautiful  monument  has 
been  erected  to  his  memory,  and  on  it  appears  the 
following  simple  inscription : 

TIMOTHY    BOBBIN, 
AGED  34. 

"  He  found  the  cup  of  life  too  bitter, 
And  turned  away  his  head." 


THE  WIFE  WINS. 

BY  R.  Gr.  BURDETTE,  of  the  "Burlington  Hawkeyc." 

When  they  reached  the  depot,  Mr.  Mann  and  his  wife  gazed  in 
unspeakable  disappointment  at  the  receding  train,  which  was  just  pull 
ing"  away  from  the  bridge-switch  at  the  rate  of  a  thousand  miles  a 
minute.  The  first  impulse  was  to  run  after  it,  but  as  the  train  was  out 
of  sight  and  whistling  for  Sagetown  before  they  could  act  upon  the 
impulse,  they  remained  in  the  carriage,  and  disconsolately  turned  their 
horses'  heads  homeward. 

"  It  all  conies  of  having  to  wait  for  a  woman  to  get  ready,"  Mr. 
Mann  broke  the  silence  very  grimly. 

"  I  was  ready  before  you  were,"  replied  his  wife. 

"Great  heavens!"  cried  Mr.  Msmn,  with  keen  impatience,  jerking 
Ihe  horses'  jaws  out  of  place;  "jutt  listen  to  that.  I  sat  in  the  buggy 
1  n  minutes,  yelling  at  you  to  come  along,  until  the  whole  neighbor 
hood  heard  me." 

"  Yes,"  acquiesced  Mrs.  Mann,  with  the  provoking  placidity  th;it 
none  can  assume  but  a  woman,  "  and  every  time  I  started  down  stairs 
you  sent  me  back  for  something  you  had  forgotten." 

Mr.  Mann  groaned.  "  This  is  too  much  to  bear,"  he  said,  "  when 
everybody  knows  that  if  I  were  going  to  Europe  I  would  rush  into  the 
house,  put  on  a  clean  shirt,  grab  up  my  grip-sack  and  fly,  while  you 
would  want  at  least  six  months  for  preliminary  preparations,  and  then 
dawdle  around  the  whole  day  of  starting  until  every  train  had  left 
town." 

Well,  the  upshot  of  the  matter  was,  that  the  Manns  put  off  their 
visit  to  Aurora  until  the  next  week,  and  it  was  agreert  that  each  one 
should  get  himself  or  herself  ready  and  go  down  to  the  train  and  go; 
and  the  one  who  failed  to  get  ready  should  be  left.  The  day  of  the 
match  came  around  in  due  time.  The  train  was  going  at  10.30,  and 
Mann,  after  attending  to  his  business,  went  home  at  9.45. 

"Now,  then,"  he  shouted,  "  only  three-quarters  of  an  hour's  time. 
Fly  around ;  a  fair  field  and  no  favors,  j'ou  know." 

And  away  they  flew.  Mr.  Maun  bulged  into  this  room  and  flow 
through  that  one,  and  dived  into  one  closet  after  another  with  incon 
ceivable  rapidity,  chuckling  under  his  brenih  all  the  time  to  think  how 
cher.p  M'S.  Mann  would  feel  when  he  started  off  alone.  He  stopped 
OJL  his  way  up  stairs  to  pull  off  his  heavy  boots  to  save  time.  For  tl  ; 
same  reason  he  pulled  off  his  coat,  and  he  ran  through  the  dining  room 
and  hung  it  on  a  corner  of  the  silver  closet.  Then  he  jerked  off  Lid 
vest  as  he  rushed  through  the  hall,  and  tossod  it  <  u  a  hook  in  the  h;>t 
rack,  and  by  the  time  he  had  reached  his  own  room  he  was  ready  to 
plunge  into  his  clean  clothes.  He  pulled  out  the  bureau  drawer  and 
began  to  paw  at  the  things  like  a  Scotch  terrier  after  a  rat. 


2  THE  WIFE  WINS. 

"Eleanor,"  he  shrieked,  "where  are  my  shirts?" 

"la  your  bureau  drawer,"  calmly  replied  Mrs.  Mann,  who  was 
standing  before  a  glass,  quietly  and  deliberately  coaxing  a  refractory 
crimp  into  place. 

"  Well,  by  thunder,  they  ain't,"  shouted  Mr.  Mann,  a  little  annoyed. 
"  I've  emptied  everything  out  of  the  drawer,  and  there  isn't  a  thing  in 
it  I  ever  saw  before." 

Mrs.  Mann  stepped  back  a  few  paces,  held  her  head  on  one  side, 
and  after  satisfying  herself  that  the  crimp  would  do,  ami  would  stay 
where  she  had  put  it,  replied : 

"  These  things  scattered  around  on  the  floor  are  all  mine.  Probably 
you  haven't  be  n  looking  in  your  own  drawer." 

"I  don't  see,"  testily  observed  Mr.  Mann,  "why  you  couldn't  have 
put  my  things  out  for  me,  when  you  had  nothing  else  to  do  all  the 
morning." 

"Because,"  said  Mrs.  Mann,  settling  herself  into  an  additional 
article  of  raiment  with  awful  deliberation,  "nobody  put  mine  out  for 
me.  A  fair  field  and  no  favors,  my  dear." 

Mr.  Mann  plunged  into  his  shirt  like  a  bull  at  a  red  flag. 

"Foul!"  he  shouted  in  malicious  triumph.  "No  buttons  on  the 
neck ! " 

"Because,"  said  Mrs.  Mann,  sweetly,  after  a  deliberate  stare  at  the 
fidgeting,  impatient  man,  during  which  she  buttoned  her  dress  and  put 
eleven  pins  where  they  would  do  the  most  good,  "because  you  have 
got  the  shirt  on  wrong  side  out." 

When  Mr.  Mann  slid  out  of  the  shirt  he  began  to  sweat,  lie 
dropped  the  shirt  three  times  before  l.e  got  it  on,  and  while  it  was  OVCT 
his  head  he  heard  the  clock  strike  ten.  When  his  head  came  through 
he  saw  Mrs.  Mann  coax-ing  the  cuds  and  bows  of  her  necktie. 

"  Where's  my  shirt  stuHs  ?"  he  cried. 

Mrs.  Maun  went  out  imo  another  room,  and  presently  came  back 
with  her  gloves  and  her  hat,  and  saw  Mr.  Mann  emptying  all  the  hexes 
he  could  find  in  and  about  the  bureau.  Then  she  said : 

"  In  the  shirt  you  j  ust  pulled  off." 

Mrs.  Mann  put  on  her  gloves  while  Mr.  Mann  hunted  up  and  down 
the  room  for  his  cuff  buttons. 

"Eleanor,"  he  snarled  at  last,  "I  believe  you  must  know  where 
those  cnft  buttons  are." 

"I  haven't  seen  them,"  said  the  lady,  settling  her  hat,  "didn't  you 
lay  them  down  on  the  window  sill  in  the  sitting  room  last  night?" 

Mr.  Mann  remembered,  and  went  down  stairs  on  the  run.  He 
stepped  on  one  of  his  boots,  and  was  immediately  landed  in  the  hall  at 
UK;  l\;ot  of  the  stairs  with  neatuess  and  dispatch,  attended  in  the  trans 
mission  with  more  bumps  than  he  could  count  with  Weob's  adder,  and 
lauding  with  a  bang  like  the  Hell  Gate  explosion. 

'Are  you  nearly  ready,  Algernon  ?"  asked  the  wife  of  his  family, 
sweetly,  leaning  over  the  banisters. 

.  The  unhappy  man  groaned.    "Can  you  throw  me  down  the  other 
boot?"  he  asked. 


THE  WIFE  WINS. 


Mrs.  Mann  pityingly  kicked  it  down  to  him. 
''My  valise  ?"  he  inquired,  as  1 


he  tugged  at  the  boot. 

"  Up  in  your  dressing  room,"  she  answered. 

"Packed?" 

"  I  do  not  know ;  unless  you  packed  it  yourself,  probably  not,"  she 
replied,  with  her  hand  on  the  door  knob;  "I  had  barely  time  to  pack 
niy  own." 

She  was  passing  out  of  the  gate,  when  the  door  opened,  and  he 
shouted : 

"Where  in  the  name  of  goodness  did  you  put  my  vest!  It  has  all 
of  my  money  in  it." 

"  You  threw  it  on  the  hat  rack,''  s'.ie  called;  "good-bye,  dear." 

Before  she  reached  the  corner  of  the  street  she  was  hailed  again: 

"Eleanor!  Eleanor!  Eleanor  Ma^n!    Did  you  wear  off  my  coat?" 

She  paused  and  turned,  after  signaling  the  street  car  to  stop,  and 
cried  : 

"You  threw  it  on  the  silver  closet." 

And  the  street  car  engulphed  her  graceful  form,  and  she  was  seen 
no  more.  But  the  neighbors  say  that  they  heard  Mr.  Mann  charging 
up  and  down  the  house,  rushing  out  of  the  front  door  every  now  and 
then,  shrieking  up  the  deserted  street  after  the  unconscious  Mrs.  Mann, 
to  know  where  his  hat  was,  and  where  she  put  the  valise  key,  and  if  he 
had  any  clean  socks  and  undershirts,  and  that  there  wasn't  a  linen 
collar  in  the  house.  And  when  he  went  away  at  last,  he  left  the  kitchen 
door,  the  side  door,  and  the  tront  door,  all  the  downstairs  windows  and 
1  he  front  gate  wide  open;  and  the  loungers  around  the  depot  were 
somewhat  amused,  just  as  the  train  was  pulling  out  of  sight  down  in 
the  yards  to  see  a  flashed,  perspiring  man,  with  his  hat  on  sideways, 
his  vest  buttoned  two  buttons  too  high,  his  cuffs  unbuttoned  and  neck 
tie  flying,  and  his  gripsack  flapping  open  and  shut  like  a  demented 
shutter  on  a  March  night,  and  a  door  key  in  his  hand,  dash  wildly 
across  the  platform  and  halt  in  the  middle  of  the  track,  glaring  in 
dejected,  impotent,  wrathful  mortification  at  the  departing  train,  and 
shaking  his  fist  at  a  pretty  woman  who  was  throwing  kisses  at  him 
irom  the  rear  platform  of  the  last  car. 


THE  ABOVE  IS  A  SPECIMEN   EXTRACT  FROM 

THE  RISE  AND  FALL  OF  THE  MUSTACHE;  and  Other  Hawkeytems. 

By  ROBEUT  G.  BURDETTK,  the  Humorist  of  the  "  Burlington  Hawkeye." 
It  is  an  elegant  12  mo.  volume  of  328  pages,  printed  from  new  type  on  heavy  tinted 
paper,  profusely  Illustrated,  and  bound  in  the  finest, English  muslin,  with  gold  and 
black  side  stamps.  It  is  by  all  odds  the  most  entertaining  book  of  the  day,  and  so  full 
of  irresistible  fun  that  we  warrant  it  to  set  a  funeral  party  in  a  roar  of  laughter,  or  we 
will  cheerfully  refund  the  money.  The  Author's  preface  says:  "  Books  have  been  pub 
lished  for  the  consolation  of  the  d  stressed;  for  the  guidance  of  the  wandering;  for  the 
relief  of  the  destitute;  for  the  hope  of  the  penitent;  for  the  good  against  the  bad;  for 
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